lambo, bi, bitum (perf. lambuerunt, Vulg. Jud. 7, 7 al.), 3, v. a. [root lap-; Gr. λάπτω, λαφύσσω; Lat. labrum, labium; Germ. Löffel, spoon; Eng. lip], to lick, lap; to touch (class.; cf.: lingo, sugo, ligurio).
- I. Lit.: hi canes, quos tribunal meum vides lambere, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 11, § 28: lagonae collum, Phaedr. 1, 25, 10: lambent cibos (pisces), Col. 8, 17, 11: manum, Mart. 4, 30, 4: sanguinem, Plin. Pan. 48, 3: crustula, Juv. 9, 5: jucundasque puer qui lamberat ore placentas, Lucil. ap. Prisc. 10, 3, 14: lambent sanguinem, to lick up, to lap, Vulg. 3 Reg. 21, 9; cf. id. Judic. 7, 5 al.: te gurgite mersum unda feret, piscesque inpastivulnera lambent, Verg. A. 10, 560.
- II. Transf., of a river, to flow by, to wash, bathe: vel quae loca fabulosus Lambit Hydaspes, washes, Hor. C. 1, 22, 7.
Of fire, to lick, to reach, play upon: flamma summum properabat lambere tectum, Hor. S. 1, 5, 73: innoxia mollis Lambere flamma comas (Iuli), Verg. A. 2, 684: Aetna attollit globos flammarum et sidera lambit, id. ib. 3, 574.
Of the ivy: quorum imagines lambunt hederae sequaces, to encircle, Pers. prol. 5: Tedia non lambit Cluviam, caress, fondle, Juv. 2, 49: tribunal unius legati, to fawn upon, court, Amm. 15, 3, 3.
In mal. part., Aus. Ep. 120, 1 et saep.