I. tick ‧ le 1 /ˈtɪk ə l/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Perhaps from tick 'to touch lightly' (16-19 centuries) ]
1 . [transitive] to move your fingers gently over someone’s body in order to make them laugh:
Stop tickling me!
2 . [intransitive and transitive] if something touching your body tickles you, it makes you want to rub your body because it is slightly uncomfortable:
Mommy, this blanket tickles.
Mazie’s fur collar was tickling her neck.
3 . [transitive] if a situation, remark etc tickles you, it amuses or pleases you
be tickled pink (=be very pleased or amused)
The kids were tickled pink to see you on TV!
4 . tickle sb’s fancy informal if something tickles your fancy, you want to have it or to try doing it:
If I see something that tickles my fancy, I’m going to buy it.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time:
Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot!
▪ feel to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it:
Feel how soft this material is.
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I felt his forehead. It was cold.
▪ handle to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands:
Children should always wash their hands before handling food.
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The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care.
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Please do not handle the merchandise.
▪ finger to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things:
She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck.
▪ rub to move your hand over a surface while pressing it:
Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned.
▪ scratch to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it ITCHES :
The dog kept scratching its ear.
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Bob scratched his head thoughtfully.
▪ tickle to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh:
The baby giggled as I tickled him.
▪ grope to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched:
The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon.
II. tickle 2 BrE AmE noun [singular]
1 . a feeling in your throat that makes you want to cough:
I’ve got a tickle in my throat.
2 . give somebody a tickle to move your fingers gently over someone’s body in order to make them laugh