wick
B2Neutral to technical; the informal verb sense is British colloquial.
Definition
Meaning
A strip of porous material (traditionally cord) that draws up liquid fuel (like oil or wax) to be burned in a lamp, candle, or heater.
1. The part of an oil lamp or candle that burns. 2. (In sports, especially cricket) The set of three vertical stumps. 3. (Informal, UK) To become angry or agitated (to get on someone's wick). 4. (Technical) A mechanism in some devices (e.g., humidifiers, lighters) that draws liquid via capillary action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is polysemous, with a concrete, technical core meaning and specific extended uses in sports and informal British English. The 'cricket' sense is a metonym.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The informal phrasal verb 'to get on someone's wick' (to annoy someone) is exclusively British. The cricket sense is common in UK and Commonwealth countries but rare in US English.
Connotations
In British informal use, 'wick' can carry a connotation of irritation. In both varieties, the core meaning is neutral/technical.
Frequency
The core noun sense is equally understood but less frequently used in everyday modern English in both varieties, except in specific contexts (candles, oil lamps, cricket).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[trim/cut/shorten] the wickthe wick [draws/burns/smokes][get on/be on] someone's wick (BrE informal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get on someone's wick (BrE informal: to annoy someone)”
- “keep your wick dry (rare, archaic: stay out of trouble)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; potentially in manufacturing/supply of candles, lamps, or niche technical products.
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical or materials science texts discussing combustion or capillary action.
Everyday
Most common in contexts of candles, traditional lamps, and cricket commentary (UK/Commonwealth).
Technical
Used in engineering and product design for devices using capillary action (e.g., wick humidifiers, certain lighters).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- His constant whistling really wicks me off. (informal, derivative of 'get on wick')
- The fabric is designed to wick moisture away from the skin. (technical)
American English
- This performance fabric wicks sweat efficiently.
- The oil wicked up through the small tube.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use for 'wick')
American English
- (No standard adverbial use for 'wick')
adjective
British English
- Wick-trimming scissors are essential for candle care.
- He bought a new wick lighter for his camping stove.
American English
- Look for wick-based humidifiers for quiet operation.
- The wick adjustment knob is on the side.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The candle has a short wick.
- He lit the wick of the oil lamp.
- You need to trim the wick for a cleaner burn.
- In cricket, the ball hit the wick.
- The new sportswear material wicks away perspiration quickly.
- His arrogant attitude really gets on my wick.
- The engineer explained the principle of capillary action using the wick of a simple lamp as an example.
- A humidifier with a ceramic wick provides a more natural dispersion of moisture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a candle: the WICK is the WICKed little string that burns.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOURCE OF IGNITION/ENERGY (e.g., 'He's the wick of the team's spirit'), A CONDUIT (drawing something up, like information or emotion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'week' (неделя) due to similar pronunciation.
- The cricket term 'wicket' (калитка) is related but not the same as 'wick'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'wicke' or 'wic'.
- Using 'wick' to mean the whole candle (it's only a part).
- Overusing the informal British sense in formal/international contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is the word 'wick' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most associated with candles and oil lamps, it applies to any porous cord drawing liquid for burning (e.g., in old heaters, lighters) or, in modern technical use, for moisture-wicking fabrics and devices.
It's a British informal idiom meaning 'to annoy or irritate me intensely'. Its origin is debated but is likely rhyming slang or a crude metaphor.
In cricket, 'the wicket' refers to the set of three stumps. Informally, players and commentators often shorten it to 'the wick', as in 'he hit the wick'.
Yes, in technical contexts (especially in materials science and product descriptions), 'to wick' means to draw liquid away through capillary action, e.g., 'This fabric wicks moisture'.