—v.
1 tr. draw (a fluid) into the mouth by making a partial vacuum.
2 tr. (also absol.) a draw milk or other fluid from or through (the breast etc. or a container). b extract juice from (a fruit) by sucking.
3 tr. a draw sustenance, knowledge, or advantage from (a book etc.). b imbibe or gain (knowledge, advantage, etc.) as if by sucking.
4 tr. roll the tongue round (a sweet, teeth, one's thumb, etc.).
5 intr. make a sucking action or sound (sucking at his pipe).
6 intr. (of a pump etc.) make a gurgling or drawing sound.
7 tr. (usu. foll. by down, in) engulf, smother, or drown in a sucking movement.
—n.
1 the act or an instance of sucking, esp. the breast.
2 the drawing action or sound of a whirlpool etc.
3 (often foll. by of) a small draught of liquor.
4 (in pl.; esp. as int.) colloq. a an expression of disappointment. b an expression of derision or amusement at another's discomfiture.
Phrases and idioms:
give suck archaic (of a mother, dam, etc.) suckle. suck dry
1 exhaust the contents of (a bottle, the breast, etc.) by sucking.
2 exhaust (a person's sympathy, resources, etc.) as if by sucking.
suck in
1 absorb.
2 = sense 7 of v.
3 involve (a person) in an activity etc. esp. against his or her will.
suck up
1 (often foll. by to) colloq. behave obsequiously esp. for one's own advantage.
2 absorb.
Etymology: OE sucan, = L sugere
Useful english dictionary. 2012.