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tick

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The definition of a tick is a recurring noise.

(noun)

An example of a tick is the sound of a watch or clock.

To tick means to create a consistent noise or beat.

(verb)

An example of to tick is for a clock to make a noise every second.

See tick in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a light touch; pat
a light clicking or tapping sound, as that made by the escapement of a watch or clock
a mark (✓, /, etc.) made to check off items; check mark
Origin: from the time needed for one tick of a clock
Brit., Informal moment; instant

Origin: ME tek, prob. < Gmc echoic base > Du tikk, MHG zicken, to tick

intransitive verb

to make a tick or series of ticks, as a clock
Informal to function characteristically or well; operate; work: what makes him tick?

transitive verb

to indicate, record, or count by a tick or ticks
Chiefly Brit. to mark or check off (an item on a list, etc.) with a tick: usually with off

noun

any of a superfamily (Ixodoidea, order Parasitiformes) of wingless, bloodsucking mites, including many species that transmit diseases and are usually parasitic on humans, cattle, sheep, etc.
any of various degenerate, two-winged, parasitic insects

Origin: ME teke < OE ticia (? for ticca), akin to MDu teke, Ger zecke < IE base *deiĝh-, to prickle, itch > Arm tiz, tick, MIr dega, stag beetle

noun

a cloth case or covering that is filled with cotton, feathers, hair, etc. to form a mattress or pillow
Informal ticking

Origin: LME tykke, akin to MDu tyke, both prob. < early WGmc borrowing < L theca, a cover, sheath: see theca

noun

Chiefly Brit., Informal credit; trust: to buy something on tick

Origin: contr. < ticket

See tick in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A light, sharp, clicking sound made repeatedly by a machine, such as a clock.
Chiefly British A moment.
A light mark used to check off or call attention to an item.
Informal A unit on a scale; a degree: when interest rates move up a tick.

verb ticked, tick·ing, ticks

verb, intransitive

To emit recurring clicking sounds: as the clock ticked.
To function characteristically or well: machines ticking away; curious about what makes people tick.

verb, transitive

To count or record with or as if with the sound of ticks: a clock ticking the hours; a taxi meter ticking the fare.
To mark or check off (a listed item) with a tick: ticked off each name as the roll was called.

Phrasal Verb: tick off Informal To make angry or annoyed: Constant delays ticked me off.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English tek, light tap

noun

Any of numerous small bloodsucking parasitic arachnids of the family Ixodidae, many of which transmit febrile diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
Any of various usually wingless, louselike insects of the family Hippobosciddae that are parasitic on sheep, goats, and other animals.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English teke, tik

Origin: , perhaps from Old English *ticca

noun