Tick: meaning, definitions and examples

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tick

 

[ tɪk ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

time measurement

A tick is a very short time period, usually less than a second.

Synonyms

instant, moment, second

Examples of usage

  • The clock ticks every second.
  • She completed the task in just a tick.
Context #2 | Noun

small insect

A tick is a small arachnid that attaches itself to mammals and feeds on their blood.

Synonyms

bug, insect, parasite

Examples of usage

  • I found a tick on my dog's fur.
  • Ticks can transmit diseases to humans.
Context #3 | Verb

make a clicking sound

To tick means to make a light, sharp, repetitive sound, like that of a clock.

Synonyms

beat, click, tap

Examples of usage

  • The old clock ticked loudly in the quiet room.
  • Raindrops ticked against the window.

Translations

Translations of the word "tick" in other languages:

🇵🇹 marca

🇮🇳 टिक

🇩🇪 Häkchen

🇮🇩 tanda centang

🇺🇦 позначка

🇵🇱 znak

🇯🇵 チェックマーク

🇫🇷 coche

🇪🇸 marca

🇹🇷 işaret

🇰🇷 체크 표시

🇸🇦 علامة

🇨🇿 značka

🇸🇰 značka

🇨🇳 

🇸🇮 oznaka

🇮🇸 merki

🇰🇿 белгі

🇬🇪 ნიშანი

🇦🇿 işarə

🇲🇽 marca

Etymology

The word 'tick' originated from the Old English word 'ticcen', which meant a small animal or bug. Over time, it evolved to refer to a small clicking sound, such as that made by a clock. The association with time measurement likely comes from the ticking sound of clocks. The usage of 'tick' to describe a small arachnid dates back to the 17th century.

See also: ticker, ticket, ticking, tickle.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,794, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.