# tock

/ˈtɑk/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tock
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

the second sound in the ticking of a clock, coming right after the tick. It is the sound that marks the end of a second.

For teachers: the second of the two sounds produced by a clock's escapement mechanism, following the tick. Often used in the compound 'tick-tock' to represent the passage of time.

## Examples

- The clock's tock echoed through the empty room.
- The rhythmic tick-tock of the grandfather clock was the only sound in the silent library.
- As the final exam approached, the steady tock of the wall clock seemed to grow louder, heightening the tension among the students waiting for the bell to ring.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.