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[lahyk] /laɪk/

adjective, (Poetic) liker, likest.
1.
of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.:
I cannot remember a like instance.
2.
corresponding or agreeing in general or in some noticeable respect; similar; analogous:
drawing, painting, and like arts.
3.
bearing resemblance.
4.
Dialect. or probable:
‘Tis like that he’s gone mad.
5.
Dialect. about; almost ready, as to perform some action:
The poor chap seemed like to run away.
preposition
6.
in like manner with; similarly to; in the manner characteristic of:
He works like a beaver.
7.
resembling (someone or something):
He is just like his father. Your necklace is just like mine.
8.
characteristic of:
It would be like him to forget our appointment.
9.
as if there is promise of; indicative of:
It looks like rain.
10.
as if someone or something gives promise of being:
She looks like a good prospect for the job.
11.
disposed or inclined to (usually preceded by feel):
to feel like going to bed.
12.
similar or comparable to:
There is nothing like a cold drink of water when one is thirsty. What was he like?
13.
(used correlatively to indicate similarity through relationship):
like father, like son.
14.
(used to establish an intensifying, often facetious, comparison):
sleeping like a log.
15.
as; such as:
There are numerous hobbies you might enjoy, like photography or painting.
adverb
16.
nearly; closely; approximately:
The house is more like 40 than 20 years old.
17.
Informal. likely or probably:
Like enough he’ll come with us. Like as not her leg is broken.
18.
Nonstandard.

conjunction
19.
in the same way as; just as; as:
It happened like you might expect it would.
20.
as if:
He acted like he was afraid. The car runs like new.
21.
Informal. (used especially after forms of be to introduce reported speech or thought): She’s like, “I don’t believe it,” and I’m like, “No, it’s true!”.
noun
22.
a similar or comparable person or thing, or like persons or things; counterpart, match, or equal (usually preceded by a possessive adjective or the):
No one has seen his like in a long time. Like attracts like.
23.
kind; sort; type; ilk (usually preceded by a possessive adjective):
I despise moochers and their like.
24.
the like, something of a similar nature:
They grow oranges, lemons, and the like.
interjection
25.
Informal. (used especially in speech, often nonvolitionally or habitually, to preface a sentence, to fill a pause, to express uncertainty, or to intensify or neutralize a following adjective):
Like, why didn’t you write to me? The music was, like, really great, you know?
Idioms
26.
like anything, Informal. very much; extremely; with great intensity:
He wanted like anything to win.
27.
like to, South Midland and Southern U.S. was on the verge of or came close to (doing something):
The poor kid like to froze.
Also, liked to.
28.
something like, Informal. something approaching or approximating:
It looked something like this.
29.
the like / likes of, someone or something similar to; the equal of:
I’ve never seen the like of it anywhere.
/laɪk/
adjective
1.
(prenominal) similar; resembling
preposition
2.
similar to; similarly to; in the manner of: acting like a maniac, he’s so like his father
3.
used correlatively to express similarity in certain proverbs: like mother, like daughter
4.
such as: there are lots of ways you might amuse yourself — like taking a long walk, for instance
adverb
5.
a dialect word for likely
6.
(not standard) as it were: often used as a parenthetic filler: there was this policeman just staring at us, like
7.
(informal) be like …, used to introduce direct speech or nonverbal communication: I was like, ‘You’re kidding!’
conjunction
8.
(not standard) as though; as if: you look like you’ve just seen a ghost
9.
in the same way as; in the same way that: she doesn’t dance like you do
noun
10.
the equal or counterpart of a person or thing, esp one respected or prized: compare like with like, her like will never be seen again
11.
the like, similar things: dogs, foxes, and the like
12.
the likes of, the like of, people or things similar to (someone or something specified): we don’t want the likes of you around here
/laɪk/
verb
1.
(transitive) to find (something) enjoyable or agreeable or find it enjoyable or agreeable (to do something): he likes boxing, he likes to hear music
2.
(transitive) to be fond of
3.
(transitive) to prefer or wish (to do something): we would like you to go
4.
(transitive) to feel towards; consider; regard: how did she like it?
5.
(intransitive) to feel disposed or inclined; choose; wish
6.
(transitive) (archaic) to please; agree with: it likes me not to go
noun
7.
(usually pl) a favourable feeling, desire, preference, etc (esp in the phrase likes and dislikes)
adj.

“having the same characteristics or qualities” (as another), Middle English shortening of Old English gelic “like, similar,” from Proto-Germanic *galika- “having the same form,” literally “with a corresponding body” (cf. Old Saxon gilik, Dutch gelijk, German gleich, Gothic galeiks “equally, like”), a compound of *ga- “with, together” + Germanic base *lik- “body, form; like, same” (cf. Old English lic “body,” German Leiche “corpse,” Danish lig, Swedish lik, Dutch lijk “body, corpse”). Analogous, etymologically, to Latin conform. The modern form (rather than *lich) may be from a northern descendant of the Old English word’s Norse cognate, glikr.

Formerly with comparative liker and superlative likest (still in use 17c.). The preposition (c.1200) and the adverb (c.1300) both are from the adjective. As a conjunction, first attested early 16c. The word has been used as a postponed filler (“going really fast, like”) from 1778; as a presumed emphatic (“going, like, really fast”) from 1950, originally in counterculture slang and bop talk. Phrase more like it “closer to what is desired” is from 1888.
v.

Old English lician “to please, be sufficient,” from Proto-Germanic *likjan (cf. Old Norse lika, Old Frisian likia, Old High German lihhen, Gothic leikan “to please”), from *lik- “body, form; like, same.”

The basic meaning seems to be “to be like” (see like (adj.)), thus, “to be suitable.” Like (and dislike) originally flowed the other way: It likes me, where we would say I like it. The modern flow began to appear late 14c. (cf. please).
n.

c.1200, “a similar thing” (to another), from like (adj.).

adverb

As if; really; you know; sort of •A generalized

modifier

used to lend a somewhat tentative and detached tone to the speaker, to give the speaker time to rally words and ideas: Like I was like groovin’ like, you know what I mean? (1950s+ Counterculture & bop talk)

verb

To pick; bet on: I liked Felton. I took his folder and read it again (1950s+)

Related Terms

make like