■ verb
1》 lightly touch in a way that causes itching or twitching and often laughter.
↘catch (a trout) by lightly rubbing it so that it moves backwards into the hand.
2》 be appealing or amusing to.
■ noun an act of tickling or sensation of being ~d.
Phrases
be ~d pink (or to death ) informal be extremely amused or pleased.
~ the ivories informal play the piano.
Derivatives
~r noun
tickly adjective
Origin
ME: perh. a frequentative of tick 1 , or an alt. of Scots and dialect kittle 'to ~' (cf. kittle ).