Stick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stuck (Obs. Sticked ); p. pr. & vb. n. Sticking.]
 1. To penetrate with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to stab; hence, to kill by piercing; as, to stick a beast.
    And sticked him with bodkins anon.   --Chaucer.
    It was a shame . . . to stick him under the other gentleman's arm while he was redding the fray.   --Sir W. Scott.
 2. To cause to penetrate; to push, thrust, or drive, so as to pierce; as, to stick a needle into one's finger.
    Thou stickest a dagger in me.   --Shak.
 3. To fasten, attach, or cause to remain, by thrusting in; hence, also, to adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing; as, to stick a pin on the sleeve.
    My shroud of white, stuck all with yew.   --Shak.
    The points of spears are stuck within the shield.   --Dryden.
 4. To set; to fix in; as, to stick card teeth.
 5. To set with something pointed; as, to stick cards.
 6. To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale; as, to stick an apple on a fork.
 7. To attach by causing to adhere to the surface; as, to stick on a plaster; to stick a stamp on an envelope; also, to attach in any manner.
 8. Print. To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick; as, to stick type. [Cant]
 9. Joinery To run or plane (moldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such moldings are said to be stuck.
 10. To cause to stick; to bring to a stand; to pose; to puzzle; as, to stick one with a hard problem. [Colloq.]
 11. To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat. [Slang]
 To stick out, to cause to project or protrude; to render prominent.


 Stick v. i.
 1. To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall.
    The green caterpillar breedeth in the inward parts of roses not blown, where the dew sticketh.   --Bacon.
 2. To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely.
    A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.   --Prov. xviii. 24.
    I am a kind of bur; I shall stick.   --Shak.
 If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown,
 'T will ever stick through malice of your own.   --Young.
 3. To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed.
 I had most need of blessing, and “Amen”
 Stuck in my throat.   --Shak.
 The trembling weapon passed
 Through nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last.   --Dryden.
 4. To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; -- often with at.
    They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas.   --Locke.
    Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will.   --Arbuthnot.
 5. To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.
    This is the difficulty that sticks with the most reasonable.   --Swift.
 To stick by. (a) To adhere closely to; to be firm in supporting. “We are your only friends; stick by us, and we will stick by you.” --Davenant. (b) To be troublesome by adhering. “I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.” --Pope.
 To stick out. (a) To project; to be prominent. “His bones that were not seen stick out.” --Job xxxiii. 21. (b) To persevere in a purpose; to hold out; as, the garrison stuck out until relieved. [Colloq.]
 To stick to, to be persevering in holding to; as, to stick to a party or cause. “The advantage will be on our side if we stick to its essentials.” --Addison.
 To stick up, to stand erect; as, his hair sticks up.
 To stick up for, to assert and defend; as, to stick up for one's rights or for a friend. [Colloq.]
 To stick upon, to dwell upon; not to forsake. “If the matter be knotty, the mind must stop and buckle to it, and stick upon it with labor and thought.” --Locke.

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