Defeat with the tongue? (4)
I believe the answer is:
lick
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'defeat' is the first definition.
(lick can mean to beat or defeat)
'tongue?' is the second definition.
(I know that tongue has the is a more specific form of the action lick)
'with the' is the link.
(Other definitions for lick that I've seen before include "Lap - speed" , "Taste" , "Personally clean" , "Flog" , "Lap -- beat hollow" .)