lick

Compared meaning: touch or take in with the tongue (verb).

比较义项：舔（动词）。

• lap

  Means to drink liquid by scooping it with quick tongue movements; used almost only for animals drinking (often with 'up'), not for touching a surface once.

  指用舌头快速舀起液体来喝，几乎只用于动物饮水（常与 up 连用），不用于指舌头在表面上扫过一下。

  The cat lapped milk from the bowl with quick little movements of its tongue.

  那只猫用舌头快速地一下下舔着碗里的牛奶喝。

• lick 本词

  Means to pass the tongue once or repeatedly over a surface (skin, food, an object); works for people and animals and is not limited to drinking.

  指舌头在表面（皮肤、食物、物体等）上扫过一次或多次，人和动物都可以用，并不限于喝东西。

  The dog gave a friendly lick to the boy's outstretched hand.

  那只狗友好地舔了一下男孩伸出的手。

Lap and lick both use the tongue, but differently. Lap means to drink liquid with quick tongue movements, almost only for animals. Lick means to pass the tongue over a surface, for people or animals, not just drinking. Not compared: lap's other meaning, the legs.

两者都表示用舌头接触或扫过物体，但 lap 强调用舌头一下下地舀起液体来喝，多用于动物饮水；lick 泛指舌头掠过表面（人或动物皆可），不限于喝液体。这里不比较 lap 的“大腿、膝头”等名词义。