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Tick Very Common

Tick has 15 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a metallic tapping sound

"he counted the ticks of the clock"

2

any of two families of small parasitic arachnids with barbed proboscis; feed on blood of warm-blooded animals

"The tick attached to my dog's ear and began feeding on its blood."

3

a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed etc.

"as he called the role he put a check mark by each student's name"

4

a light mattress

"The old sofa had a tick that made sitting on it very comfortable."

5

A tiny woodland arachnid of the suborder Ixodida.

"The farmer brought in his prize tick, which had won first place at the county fair."

6

A relatively quiet but sharp sound generally made repeatedly by moving machinery.

7

Ticking.

8

Credit, trust.

9

A goat.

In plain English: A tick is a small insect that attaches itself to animals and humans to drink their blood.

"The clock ticked loudly in the empty room, marking every passing second."

Usage: Use "tick" as a noun for the sharp, repetitive sound made by moving machinery or clocks rather than referring to the small insect. When describing this noise, ensure it is presented in contexts involving mechanical movement where no other specific word fits better.

Verb
1

make a clicking or ticking sound

"The clock ticked away"

2

make a sound like a clock or a timer

"the clocks were ticking"

"the grandfather clock beat midnight"

3

sew

"tick a mattress"

4

put a check mark on or near or next to

"Please check each name on the list"

"tick off the items"

"mark off the units"

5

To make a clicking noise similar to the movement of the hands in an analog clock.

"The manager decided to tick his new employee's purchase order since he had a good reputation for paying quickly."

6

To go on trust, or credit.

In plain English: To tick means to make a small mark on something, usually by checking off an item on a list.

"The clock ticked loudly in the quiet room."

Example Sentences
"The clock ticked loudly in the empty room, marking every passing second." noun
"The clock ticked loudly in the quiet room." verb
"Please tick the box next to your favorite color on this form." verb
"She ticked her pen against her thumb while waiting for the bus." verb
"The clock will tick loudly in the quiet room tonight." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
sound acarine mark mattress sew verify
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
ticktock hard tick soft tick receipt

Origin

The word tick comes from the Old English ticia, which meant a parasitic animal. It traces its roots back to the Proto-West Germanic language.

Rhyming Words
ick bick pick kick vick gick nick hick mick sick rick lick fick dick crick trick click brick blick klick
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