tick
n. · v.-
1 a clicking sound (n.) B1 Intermediatea short, sharp sound, like the one made by an analog clock or a timer.
a light, rhythmic, and sharp metallic or mechanical sound.
ExampleThe steady tick of the old clock was the only sound in the quiet library.
ExampleThe mechanic listened closely for a faint tick in the engine that might indicate a loose valve or a failing belt.
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2 a checkmark (n.) B1 Intermediate British Englisha mark (✓) used to show that something is correct, finished, or chosen.
a symbol used to indicate verification, completion, or agreement; common in British and Commonwealth English.
ExamplePut a tick in the box next to the meal you would like to order.
ExampleThe examiner placed a red tick next to every correct answer on the final page of the test booklet.
UsageIn American English, 'check' or 'checkmark' is almost always used instead.
- checkmark
- check
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3 a short time (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informal British Englisha very short period of time; a moment.
an informal unit of time representing a very brief interval.
ExampleWait there, I will be with you in a tick.
ExampleThe technician promised to have the server back online in a tick, though the actual repair took nearly an hour.
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4 a tiny insect (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Sciencea tiny eight-legged creature that lives in grass and sucks blood from animals or people.
a small parasitic arachnid of the order Ixodida that attaches to hosts to feed on blood.
ExampleCheck your dog for ticks after you walk through the tall grass.
ExampleThe hikers were advised to wear long trousers to prevent ticks from attaching to their skin during the trek through the forest.
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5 computing unit (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Computinga tiny unit of time used by a computer's processor to measure how fast it works.
a single cycle of a system clock or a fixed interval between timer interrupts.
ExampleThe software measures how many ticks the processor needs to finish the task.
ExampleThe game engine updates the physics state once per tick to ensure consistent behaviour across different hardware configurations.
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6 to make a sound (v.) B1 Intermediateto make a short, sharp clicking sound repeatedly.
to produce a series of short, sharp sounds, typically as a result of mechanical movement.
ExampleI could hear the radiator ticking as the room started to get warm.
ExampleThe grandfather clock continued to tick rhythmically in the hallway, oblivious to the chaos in the rest of the house.
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7 to mark with a tick (v.) B1 Intermediate British Englishto put a mark (✓) next to an item on a list.
to mark an item with a tick to indicate it has been dealt with or verified.
ExampleTick the items off your shopping list as you find them in the store.
ExampleShe carefully ticked each name on the guest list as the attendees entered the ballroom.
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8 to function (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informalto work or behave in a certain way.
to function or operate; often used in the phrase 'what makes someone tick' to describe motivations.
ExampleI have worked with him for years, but I still don't know what makes him tick.
ExampleThe documentary attempts to explain what makes these elite athletes tick and how they maintain their focus under pressure.
From Middle English tyke, teke, from Old English ticia (“parasitic animal, tick”), from Proto-West Germanic *tīkō, compare Dutch teek, German Zecke.
From Middle English *tik, tek, tyche (“light touch, tap”), from the verb (see Etymology 3 below). Compare Dutch tik (“a pat, tap”), Middle High German zic (“a slight touch”).
From Middle English ticken, tiken, probably from Old English ticcian (“to touch, tap”), from Proto-West Germanic tikkōn (“to touch, tap”), cognate with German zecken (“to nudge, poke, jab”). Doublet of tig.
From Middle English tike, probably from Middle Dutch tike and Middle Low German teke, both ultimately from Latin theca (“cover”). Compare also German Zieche (“duvet, pillowcase”).
Clipping of ticket.
From Middle English tik-, tic-, tike-, tiken- (in compounds), an unassibilated form of Middle English tiche, tichen (“young goat”), from Old English tiċċen (“young goat; kid”), from Proto-West Germanic tikkīn (“goatling”), diminutive of Proto-West Germanic tigā (“goat”). Cognate with regional German Zicke (“nanny goat”), from Ziege (“goat; nanny goat”).