stick-n; 14 Senses

Sense Number 1: a long, thin implement, usually made of wood

Commentary: STICK[+artifact][+implement][+wooden][+long][+tool/+weapon]

Examples:
That outdoor store sells some very good hi-tech hiking sticks.
The girl used a large stick to herd the chickens into their coop.
The government has used tax policies as both a carrot and a stick. (metaphoric extension)
The conductor raised his stick in preparation to begin the performance.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 9

Sense Number 2: long thin sports equipment used for hitting balls

Commentary: STICK[+artifact][+implement][+wooden][+long][+equipment][+sporting][+hockey/+polo]

Examples:
The hockey players clubbed each other with their sticks.
The polo sticks hung above the saddles in the tack room of the stable.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6

Sense Number 3: a small tree branch, twigs

Commentary: STICK[+structure][+tree][+branch][+small]
NOTE: refers to natural objects, not artifacts (see Sense 1)

Examples:
We gathered sticks near the campsite to make a fire.
The young saplings by the river are just green sticks that can snap back if bent.
The x-ray showed that the injury to the bone was just a green stick break. (figurative extension)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 4: a control lever, as for an aircraft or car

Commentary: STICK[+device][+control][+lever]

Examples:
Bob drives a stick shift.
The pilot pulled back on the stick and the plane lifted from the runway.
The co-pilot took the stick from the pilot.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 5: anything with the form of a thin strip

Commentary: STICK[+quality][+form][+shape][+strip][+thin]

Examples:
Mary set out a plate of carrot and celery sticks.
He offered me a stick of chewing gum.
The demolition expert placed sticks of dynamite in key structural places of the building.
The apple cider should simmer for half an hour with a couple of cinnamon sticks.
We're having fish sticks for dinner.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7

Sense Number 6: a volume measure, e.g. butter

Commentary: STICK[+quantity][+measure][+volume][+dry][+butter/+lard]

Examples:
This pie crust contains a stick of butter.
There are four sticks of butter in a pound.
They sell hydrogenated vegetable oil in sticks at the grocery store.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 7: the boondocks, backwater locale

Commentary: STICK[+location][+locale][+rustic][+boondocks]
NOTE: always occurs in the plural

Examples:
He grew up in the sticks and never visited a city until he was in the Army.
We were surprised to find a gourmet coffee shop so far out in the sticks.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1-7

Sense Number 8: a marijuana cigarette

Commentary: STICK[+artifact][+cigarette][+marijuana]

Examples:
He pulled out a couple of sticks at the concert to pass among his friends.
A marijuana stick fell out of her purse right in front of the border guard.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 8

Sense Number 9: a dull, stiff, inert person

Commentary: STICK[+person][+dull][+stiff]

Examples:
Betty can be such an old stick sometimes!
Her husband seems like such a stick at parties.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1-6

Sense Number 10: strong adhesive quality

Commentary: STICK[+quality][+adhesive][+strong]

Examples:
This masking tape has a lot of stick to it.
There isn't much stick left to these old stamps.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2-3

Sense Number 11: a small number of something

Commentary: STICK[+quantity][+number][+small]

Examples:
A stick of paratroopers dropped from a plane into enemy territory.
The dictator was surrounded by a stick of heavily armed guards.
The bomber released a stick of bombs over the target area.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 3f, 3g

Sense Number 12: a piece of furniture

Commentary: STICK[+artifact][+furniture][+piece]
NOTE: informal usage

Examples:
The robbers took every last stick of furniture in the house.
There wasn't a stick of furniture to sit on in the whole lobby.
I haven't even moved one stick of lawn furniture out of the basement yet.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2d

Sense Number 13: severe criticism

Commentary: STICK[+activity][+verbal][+criticism][+severe]
NOTE: British usage

Examples:
He's taken a lot of stick from the press lately.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 4a

Sense Number 14: human legs, informal usage

Commentary: STICK[+structure][+human][+legs]

Examples:
The sailor joked that his sticks were getting old. (his legs - figurative extension of sense 1)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5