Cool MateLick vs Touch
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Lick
Top 2,000 (common)
Touch
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Touch
| Lick | Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lɪk//🇺🇸 //lɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/tʌtʃ/","/ˈtʌtʃɪz/","/tʌtʃt/","/ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʌtʃ/","/ˈtʌtʃɪz/","/tʌtʃt/","/ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To touch or move something with your tongue. | To make physical contact with something. |
| Example | The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. | Please do not touch the artwork in the gallery. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | lick the spoon, lick someone's face, lick clean, lick the envelope | (not) actually, not even, not quite, want to, (not) dare (to), reach out, over, up, etc. to, on, with, (be) careful not to touch something, close enough to touch somebody/something, deeply |
| Antonyms | leave, dry | ignore, avoid, detach |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'like' in pronunciation, Using 'lick' as a noun only, Incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'licked' instead of 'lick') | Confusing 'touch' with 'feel' in different contexts., Using 'touch' when describing emotional effects (e.g., 'That touched me') without context., Incorrectly conjugating 'touch' in past tense. |
| Usage notes | Often used in both literal and figurative contexts. In informal settings, it might refer to doing something quickly. | Use 'touch' when referring to making contact with someone or something. Avoid in formal settings when discussing relationships; instead, consider 'influence' or 'affect'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Lick vs Touch
What's the difference between Lick and Touch?
Lick: To touch or move something with your tongue. Touch: To make physical contact with something.
Which is more common: Lick and Touch?
Touch is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Lick: The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. Touch: Please do not touch the artwork in the gallery.
Can I use Lick and Touch interchangeably?
Not always. Lick and Touch are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.