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Flicker vs Flick - What's the difference?

flicker | flick | Related terms |

Flick is a related term of flicker.



As nouns the difference between flicker and flick

is that flicker is an unsteady flash of light while flick is a short, quick movement, especially a brush, sweep, or flip.

As verbs the difference between flicker and flick

is that flicker is to burn or shine unsteadily. To burn or shine with a wavering light while flick is to move or hit (something) with a short, quick motion.

flicker

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • An unsteady flash of light.
  • A short moment.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=8 citation , passage=It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To burn or shine unsteadily. To burn or shine with a wavering light.
  • * (1809-1892)
  • *:The shadows flicker to and fro.
  • *
  • *:Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth and heaping kindling on the coals,.
  • (lb) To keep going on and off; to appear and disappear for short moments; to flutter.
  • *1898 , , (Moonfleet), Ch.3:
  • *:There I lay on one side with a thin and rotten plank between the dead man and me, dazed with the blow to my head, and breathing hard; while the glow of torches as they came down the passage reddened and flickered on the roof above.
  • *1908 , (Kenneth Grahame), (The Wind in the Willows)
  • *:The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling; the oaken settles, shiny with long wear, exchanged cheerful glances with each other; plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf, and the merry firelight flickered and played over everything without distinction.
  • To flutter; to flap the wings without flying.
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing.

    • Etymology 2

    1808, American English, probably echoic of the bird's call, or from the white spotted plumage which appears to flicker.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US) A certain type of small woodpecker, especially of the genus Colaptes
    • See also
    * (wikipedia "flicker")

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who flicks.
    • Derived terms
    * bean flicker

    flick

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A short, quick movement, especially a brush, sweep, or flip.
    • He removed the speck of dust with a flick of his finger.
    She gave a disdainful flick of her hair and marched out of the room.
  • *{{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 5 , author=Saj Chowdhury , title=Newcastle 0 - 0 West Ham , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=On this occasion it was Nolan's deft flick that fooled West Ham's sleepy defenders Danny Gabbidon and Tomkins. The ball found its way to Best, who smashed in with confidence from the edge of the area.}}
  • (informal) A motion picture; (in plural, usually preceded by "the") movie theater, cinema.
    • My all-time favorite flick is "Gone with the Wind."
    Want to go to the flicks tonight?
  • (fencing) A cut that lands with the point, often involving a whip of the foible of the blade to strike at a concealed target.
  • (tennis) A powerful underarm volley shot.
  • *{{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=June 28 , author=David Ornstein , title=Wimbledon 2011: Victoria Azarenka beats Tamira Paszek in quarters , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The fourth seed was dominating her 20-year-old opponent with a series of stinging groundstrokes and athletic drive-volleys, striking again in game five when Paszek flicked a forehand pick-up into the tramlines.}}
  • The act of pressing a place on a touch screen device.
  • A flitch.
    • a flick of bacon

    Synonyms

    * (short, quick movement)'' fillip (''of the finger ) * (cinema) the pictures

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To move or hit (something) with a short, quick motion.
    • flick one's hair
    with a flick of the wrist
    to flick the dirt from boots
  • * '>citation
    • Using her hands like windshield wipers, she tried to flick snow away from her mouth. When she clawed at her chest and neck, the crumbs maddeningly slid back onto her face. She grew claustrophobic.
    (Thackeray)

    Derived terms

    * flick knife * flick off * flick the bean

    Related terms

    * flicker ----