/ tɪk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] tick (away) ( of a clock, etc. ) to make short, light, regular repeated sounds to mark time passing :
In the silence we could hear the clock ticking.
While we waited the taxi's meter kept ticking away.
a ticking bomb
2.
[ vn ] ( BrE ) ( NAmE check ) to put a mark (✓) next to an item on a list, an answer, etc. :
Please tick the appropriate box.
Tick 'yes' or 'no' to each question.
I've ticked the names of the people who have paid.
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IDIOMS
- tick all the / sb's boxes
- what makes sb tick
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PHRASAL VERBS
- tick away / by / past
- tick sth away
- tick sb off
- tick sb/sth off
- tick over
■ noun
1.
[ C ] ( BrE ) ( NAmE ˈcheck mark , check ) a mark (✓) put beside a sum or an item on a list, usually to show that it has been checked or done or is correct :
Put a tick in the appropriate box if you would like further information about any of our products.
—compare cross , X (4)
2.
[ C ] a small insect that bites humans and animals and sucks their blood. There are several types of tick, some of which can carry diseases :
a tick bite
3.
(also tick·ing ) [ U ] a short, light, regularly repeated sound, especially that of a clock or watch :
The only sound was the soft tick of the clock.
4.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal ) a moment :
Hang on a tick!
I'll be with you in two ticks.
5.
[ U ] ( old-fashioned , BrE , informal ) permission to delay paying for sth that you have bought
SYN credit :
Can I have these on tick ?
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WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 1 noun senses 3 to 4 Middle English (as a verb in the sense pat, touch): probably of Germanic origin and related to Dutch tik (noun), tikken (verb) pat, touch. The noun was recorded in late Middle English as a light tap ; current senses date from the late 17th cent.
noun sense 2 Old English ticia , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch teek and German Zecke .
noun sense 5 mid 17th cent.: apparently short for ticket in the phrase on the ticket , referring to an IOU or promise to pay.