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¹tick

noun \ˈtik\

Definition of TICK

: any of a superfamily (Ixodoidea) of bloodsucking acarid arachnids that are larger than the related mites, attach themselves to warm-blooded vertebrates to feed, and include important vectors of infectious diseases

: any of various usually wingless parasitic dipteran flies — compare sheep ked

Illustration of TICK

Origin of TICK

Middle English tyke, teke; akin to Middle High German zeche tick, Armenian tiz

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

Rhymes with TICK

brick, chick, click, crick, creek, Dick, flick, Frick, hick, kick, KWIC, lick, mick, nick, pic, pick, prick, quick, rick, Schick, shtick, sic, sick, slick, snick, stick, thick, tic, trick, wick

²tick

noun

Definition of TICK

: the fabric case of a mattress, pillow, or bolster; also : a mattress consisting of a tick and its filling

: ¹ticking

Origin of TICK

Middle English tike, probably from Middle Dutch (akin to Old High German ziahha tick), from Latin theca cover, from Greek thēkē case; akin to Greek tithenai to place — more at do

First Known Use: 15th century

³tick

noun

Definition of TICK

a : a light rhythmic audible tap or beat; also : a series of such ticks

b : the time taken by the tick of a clock : moment

: a small spot or mark; especially : one used to direct attention to something, to check an item on a list, or to represent a point on a scale

Origin of TICK

Middle English tek pat, light stroke; akin to Middle High German zic light push

First Known Use: 1680

⁴tick

verb

: to make a small, quick, and often rhythmic tapping sound

: to continue to work or function in a normal way

: to mark (something) with a written tick (✓)

Full Definition of TICK

intransitive verb

: to make the sound of a tick or a series of ticks

: to operate as a functioning mechanism : run <tried to understand what made him tick> <the motor was ticking over quietly>

transitive verb

: to mark with a written tick : check —usually used with off <ticked off each item in the list>

: to mark, count, or announce by or as if by ticking beats <a meter ticking off the cab fare>

: to touch with a momentary glancing blow <ticked the ball>

See tick defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of TICK

1721

⁵tick

noun

Definition of TICK

chiefly British

: credit, trust; also : a credit account

Origin of TICK

short for ¹ticket

First Known Use: 1642

TICK Defined for Kids

¹tick

noun \ˈtik\

Definition of TICK for Kids

: a light rhythmic tap or beat (as of a clock)

: a small mark used chiefly to draw attention to something or to check an item on a list

²tick

verb

tickedtick·ing

Definition of TICK for Kids

: to make a light rhythmic tap or a series of light rhythmic taps <a ticking clock>

: to mark, count, or announce by or as if by light rhythmic taps <A meter ticked off the cab fare.>

: ²check 5 <She ticked off each item in the list.>

: operate 1, function <The old car is still ticking.>

³tick

noun

Definition of TICK for Kids

: a tiny animal with eight legs that is related to the spider and attaches itself to humans and animals from which it sucks blood

Medical Dictionary

tick

noun \ˈtik\

Medical Definition of TICK

: any of numerous bloodsucking arachnids that constitute the acarine superfamily Ixodoidea, are much larger than the closely related mites, attach themselves to warm-blooded vertebrates to feed, include important vectors of various infectious diseases of humans and lower animals, and although the immature larva has but six legs, may be readily distinguished from an insect by the complete lack of external segmentation

: any of various usually wingless parasitic dipteran flies (as the sheep ked)