: a bundle of fibers or a loosely twisted, braided, or woven cord, tape, or tube usually of soft spun cotton threads that by capillary attraction draws up to be burned a steady supply of the oil in lamps or the melted tallow or wax in candles
wicked; wicking; wicks
: to absorb or drain (a fluid, moisture, etc.) like a wick
a fabric that wicks away perspiration
Examples of wick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2025
Ultrasonics appear to emit a lot more particulate matter than evaporatives do (more on that later); evaporatives can not only be louder, but might also require you to buy and replace a filter or wick.
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 20 Dec. 2024
Jennifer Chan, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2025
Because synthetic fibers wick away perspiration with body soil and odors, they should be washed more often.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wick 
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Noun
These paper filters cannot be cleaned but cleaning the remaining components will extend the life of the wick filter.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2025
Ultrasonics appear to emit a lot more particulate matter than evaporatives do (more on that later); evaporatives can not only be louder, but might also require you to buy and replace a filter or wick.
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
Best of all, these winter boots are constructed of a buttery smooth, luxe-looking upper made of waterproof premium leather that impressively wicks away any trace of rain, ice, or snow.
—Jennifer Chan, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2025
Because synthetic fibers wick away perspiration with body soil and odors, they should be washed more often.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wick
Dictionary Entries Near wick
Cite this Entry
“Wick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wick. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
wick
1 of 2 noun
: a strip of material (as gauze) placed in a wound to serve as a drain
wick
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to absorb or drain (as fluid or moisture) like a wick
—often used with away
a dry gauze dressing was used to wick exudate away from the wound
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