a thin piece of wood that has fallen or been cut off a tree

a long, thin piece of something

a stick of dynamite

cinnamon sticks

a threat of punishment or unwelcome measures (often contrasted with the offer of reward as a means of persuasion)

training that relies more on the carrot than on the stick

severe criticism or treatment

I took a lot of stick from the press

rural areas far from cities or civilization

he felt hard done by living out in the sticks

a person of a specified kind

Janet's not such a bad old stick sometimes

a large quantity of unsold stock, especially the proportion of shares which must be taken up by underwriters after an unsuccessful issue

push a sharp or pointed object into or through (something)

he stuck his fork into the sausage

she stuck her finger in his eye

insert, thrust, or push

a youth with a cigarette stuck behind one ear

she stuck out her tongue at him

adhere or cling to something

the plastic seats stuck to my skin

if you heat the noodles in the microwave, they tend to stick together

be fixed in a particular position or unable to move or be moved

Sara tried to open the window but it was stuck

we got stuck in a traffic jam

the cat's stuck up a tree

accept or tolerate (an unpleasant or unwelcome person or situation)

I can't stick Geoffrey—he's a real old misery