the act of delivering a blow with the foot; "he gave the ball a powerful kick"; "the team's kicking was excellent"
a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics; "the kick must be synchronized with the arm movements"; "the swimmer's kicking left a wake behind him"
the sudden stimulation provided by strong drink (or certain drugs); "a sidecar is a smooth drink but it has a powerful kick"
make a goal; "He kicked the extra point after touchdown"
stop consuming; "kick a habit"
strike with the foot; "The boy kicked the dog"; "Kick the door down"
condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action; "bombers were put on alert during the crisis"
very attentive or observant; "an alert and responsive baby is a joy"; "caught by a couple of alert cops"; "alert enough to spot the opportunity when it came"; "constantly alert and vigilant, like a sentinel on duty"
(usually followed by `to') showing acute awareness; mentally perceptive; "alert to the problems"; "alive to what is going on"; "awake to the dangers of her situation"; "was now awake to the reality of his predicament"
not unconscious; especially having become conscious; "the patient is now awake and alert"
so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm; "such an enormous response was astonishing"; "an astounding achievement"; "the amount of money required was staggering"; "suffered a staggering defeat"; "the figure inside the boucle dress was stupefying"
enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages; "build up your savings"
change the use of and make available or usable; "develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up"
form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border"
bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports"
the act of putting two things together with no space between them; "at his touch the room filled with lights"
a distinguishing style; "this room needs a woman's touch"
the feel of mechanical action; "this piano has a wonderful touch"
deftness in handling matters; "he has a master's touch"
the faculty by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body (especially the hands); "only sight and touch enable us to locate objects in the space around us"
the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin; "she likes the touch of silk on her skin"; "the surface had a greasy feeling"
a suggestion of some quality; "there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone"; "he detected a ghost of a smile on her face"
the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan); "he watched the beggar trying to make a touch"
the event of something coming in contact with the body; "he longed for the touch of her hand"; "the cooling touch of the night air"
a slight but appreciable addition; "this dish could use a touch of garlic"
a slight attack of illness; "he has a touch of rheumatism"
comprehend; "He could not touch the meaning of the poem"
be in direct physical contact with; make contact; "The two buildings touch"; "Their hands touched"; "The wire must not contact the metal cover"; "The surfaces contact at this point"
make physical contact with, come in contact with; "Touch the stone for good luck"; "She never touched her husband"
cause to be in brief contact with; "He touched his toes to the horse's flanks"
tamper with; "Don't touch my CDs!"
affect emotionally; "A stirring movie"; "I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy"
perceive via the tactile sense; "Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her"
deal with; usually used with a form of negation; "I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole"; "The local Mafia won't touch gambling"
eellike aquatic North American salamander with small forelimbs and no hind limbs; have permanent external gills
an acoustic device producing a loud often wailing sound as a signal or warning
a warning signal that is a loud wailing sound
a sea nymph (part woman and part bird) supposed to lure sailors to destruction on the rocks where the nymphs lived; "Odysseus ordered his crew to plug their ears so they would not hear the Siren's fatal song"
change a pawn for a king by advancing it to the eighth row, or change a checker piece for a more valuable piece by moving it the row closest to your opponent
be changed for a superior chess or checker piece
give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; "John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired"; "Women tend not to advance in the major law firms"; "I got promoted after many years of hard work"
contribute to the progress or growth of; "I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom"