definition of
licking

[1] #1 licking n. [defeat] an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest; "it was a narrow defeat"; "the army's only defeat"; "they suffered a convincing licking". wn

[2] #2 licking n. [beating, thrashing, drubbing, lacing, trouncing, whacking] the act of inflicting corporal punishment with repeated blows. wn