1 [count] : a cut or broken branch or twig
▪ They collected dry sticks for the campfire. ▪ a pile of sticks 2 [count] a : a long, thin piece of wood, metal, plastic, etc., that is used for a particular purpose
▪ He served pieces of fruit on sticks. ▪ a candied apple on a stick ▪ a measuring/hiking stick — see also broomstick, chopstick, dipstick, drumstick, walking stick, yardstick
b : a long, thin object that is used for hitting or moving a ball or puck in a game
▪ a hockey/lacrosse stick
c : a stick that is used as a weapon
▪ You know the old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words/names can/will never hurt me.” — often used figuratively in British English ▪ The minister's inappropriate comments gave his opponents a new stick with which to beat him. — see also nightstick 3 [count] a : something that is long and thin like a stick
▪ He has sticks for legs. ▪ cinnamon/carrot/celery sticks — often + of ▪ a stick of dynamite — see also fish stick, matchstick, pogo stick
b : a long piece of something that is usually wrapped in paper, plastic, etc.
▪ a stick of gum/butter
c : a solid substance that is sold in a tall container which is open at the top
▪ a glue stick ▪ a stick of deodorant — see also lipstick 4 [count] a : joystick
▪ The pilot pulled back on the stick.
b : stick shift
▪ Does your car have a stick? 5 the sticks informal : an area in the country that is far away from towns and cities
▪ We live way out in the sticks. [=the boonies, the boondocks] 6 [count] informal : punishment or the threat of punishment that is used to try to persuade someone to do something ◊This sense of stick is often contrasted with carrot, which refers to the reward or advantage someone will get if they do something.
▪ She'll have to choose between the carrot and the stick. ▪ They say that a carrot works better than a stick. ▪ The administration was criticized for its carrot-and-stick approach to foreign policy. 7 [noncount] Brit, informal : criticism
▪ I gave him a lot of stick [=flak] for his mistake.