Definition of tick - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
soundintr. make a short, light, regular tapping soundintr.
- The clock will tick every second.
2.
markingtr. UK mark an item with a small check to show approvaltr. UK
- She ticked the correct answers on the quiz.
3.
functioningintr. operate smoothly or effectivelyintr.
- The engine ticks over without any issues.
Noun
1.
mechanicsshort sound made by a clock or machinery
- I heard the tick of the clock at night.
2.
symbolsUK mark indicating correctness or completionUK
- Place a tick next to the correct answer.
3.
parasitessmall arachnid feeding on blood of animals
- The dog had a tick on its ear.
4.
timeUK very short period of timeUK
- I'll be back in a tick.
Images of tick
mark indicating correctness or completion 
small arachnid feeding on blood of animals
Expressions with tick
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
mark with a tick or check as done
She ticked off each item on her list.
move past slowly and steadily, especially about time
The hours tick by while we wait for news.
time passing continuously towards an end
The minutes tick away as the deadline approaches.
operate smoothly or at a steady pace
The engine continued to tick over quietly.
mark an item as done or dealt with
I tick off the list each task I finish.
meet all the requirements or expectations for something
She ticked the boxes for every job qualification.
a very brief moment
Wait just half a tick before you decide.
very soon or in a short time
I'll be with you in a tick.
very short period of time
I'll be with you in just a tick.
understand what motivates someone
She knows what makes him tick.
fulfill all the requirements or criteria
The candidate ticked all the boxes for the job.
events progress as time moves forward
The deadline ticked past without any submissions.
meet all the requirements or expectations
Her qualifications tick the right boxes for the job.
small square on a form for marking with a tick
Ensure you check the tick box next to your preferred option.
symbol showing task completion or correctness
She placed a tick mark next to each finished task.
mark a box to show a choice or completion
Please tick the box if you agree.
small tick living in woods, sometimes carries disease
A wood tick bit me during our hike.
cause someone to function a certain way
Understanding what makes her tick is fascinating.
become aware of time passing
As she waited, she could hear the clock tick.
wound or mark from a tick, sometimes causing illness
He got a tick bite while hiking in the woods.
pause for a very short moment
Wait a tick, I need to grab my keys!
engorged with food or drink to capacity
After the feast, he felt full as a tick.
quick method to check off tasks
He used a tick and flick to finish his list.
with exact precision or accuracy
He followed the instructions to a tick.
Origin of tick
Middle English, tik (a light touch or tap)
Terms with tick included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
tick sound
sound made by a mechanical device
bug
small arachnid such as a mite or tick
zoology
tick of the family Argasidae
illness
disease from tick bites in Mediterranean areas causing fever, rash, joint pain
arachnology
the head-like mouthpart of a tick
acr: chronic Lyme disease
long-lasting illness from tick bites
medical
tick-borne disease caused by Ehrlichia bacteria
tick species
type of hard-bodied tick
zoology
tick of the family Ixodidae with a hard shield
veterinary
tick-borne fever in cattle causing red urine
acr: Rocky Mountain spotted fever
sickness from tick bites
veterinary
tick-borne disease in cattle by Babesia bigemina
marking complete
mark with a tick or check as done
form
small square on a form for marking with a tick
wooded areas
small tick living in woods, sometimes carries disease
animal health
wound or mark from a tick, sometimes causing illness
medical
disease transmitted by tick bites causing fever and weakness
tick species
small tick that can spread Lyme disease, also called black-legged tick
symbols
not marked with a tick or check mark
disease
rickettsial disease from wood tick bites
tick prevention
working against ticks to prevent infestations
insect disease
small tick with dark legs, often spreads Lyme disease
biology
tick with a hard shield on its back
parasitology
tick with projecting mouthparts from its head
Examples of tick in a sentence
I could hear the bomb tick ominously. Please tick the box if you agree. He asked me to tick the items on the list. The clock ticks perfectly after the repair. Her mind ticks efficiently under pressure. The tick of the engine was rhythmic and soothing.
Each tick of the metronome guided the musicians. She put a tick on her to-do list. The teacher gave a tick for each correct answer. Ticks can transmit diseases to humans. Farmers often check livestock for ticks. The meeting will start in just a tick. Wait a tick while I grab my coat.
View all translations of tick
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:tictaquer, tic, ...
- German:ticken, Ticken, ...
- Italian:ticchettare, ticchettio, ...
- Spanish:marcar, tic, ...
- Portuguese:ticar, tique-taque, ...
- Chinese:滴答作响, 滴答声, ...
- Japanese:カチカチ音を立てる, カチッ, ...
- Arabic:نَقَرَ, طَقْ, ...
- Hebrew:לְתַקְתֵּק, תִּקְתּוּק, ...
- Russian:тикать, тик, ...
- Ukrainian:цокати, цокання, ...
- Hindi:टिक-टिक करना, टिक-टिक, ...
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