tick

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /tɪk/
• SAMPA: /tIk/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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• Homophone: tic

Noun

Singular tick

Plural ticks

A tick (bug)

A tick mark

1. A tick is a mark, used to show that something is right.

   The teacher put a tick on the correct answer.

2. A tick is a small bug.

   The dog was scratching because it had a tick in its ear.

3. A tick is a clicking noise that keeps going.

   It was very quiet, and the only sound she could hear was the tick of the old clock.

4. A tick is small line used to show a measure or a count.

Related words

• ticking
• tock, tick-tock
• check

Verb

Plain form tick

Third-person singular ticks

Past tense ticked

Past participle ticked

Present participle ticking

1. If something ticks, it is making clicking noises.

   The clocked ticked on as I waited.

   Its a ticking time-bomb. (It is like the clock on the bomb is ticking as time runs out.)