ticking
n. uncountable B1 Intermediate US //ˈtɪkɪŋ// UK //tˈɪkɪŋ// tick·ing
n. the regular clicking sound that a clock or watch makes. It can also describe a similar sound made by a timer or a machine.
n. a series of short, sharp, repetitive sounds, most characteristically produced by the escapement mechanism of a mechanical timepiece.
The loud ticking of the wall clock kept me awake all night.
In the silence of the library, the only sound was the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.
The steady ticking of the metronome provided a relentless pulse against which the student struggled to maintain the correct tempo of the sonata.
Usage
Often used with the definite article when referring to a specific, ambient sound.