Ticking: meaning, definitions and examples

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ticking

[ ˈtɪkɪŋ ]

^{Context #1}

sound

A regular short, sharp sound made by a clock or similar device.

Synonyms

clicking, tapping, ticking sound

Examples of usage

I could hear the ticking of the clock in the background.
The ticking of the timer signaled that the food was ready.

^{Context #2}

time

Mark or accompany the passage of time by the regular occurrence of a sound or motion.

Synonyms

count down, measure, track

Examples of usage

The clock on the wall was ticking away the minutes.
She watched the seconds ticking on her watch.

Translations

Translations of the word "ticking" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ticando

🇮🇳 टिक टिक करना

🇩🇪 ticken

🇮🇩 berdetik

🇺🇦 цокання

🇵🇱 tykanie

🇯🇵 カチカチ

🇫🇷 tic-tac

🇪🇸 tic-tac

🇹🇷 tik tak

🇰🇷 똑딱거림

🇸🇦 تكتكة

🇨🇿 tikání

🇸🇰 tikanie

🇨🇳 滴答作响

🇸🇮 tikanje

🇮🇸 tikkandi

🇰🇿 сырылдау

🇬🇪 ტიკტიკი

🇦🇿 tıklama

🇲🇽 tic-tac

Word origin

The word 'ticking' originated from the Old English word 'ticcen' which meant a cloth case for a mattress or pillow. The sense of 'ticking' as a ticking sound can be traced back to the early 17th century. Over time, it evolved to also refer to the ticking sound made by clocks and similar devices. The verb form of 'ticking' to mark the passage of time emerged later, around the 19th century.