I. ˈti-kəl verb
( tick·led ; tick·ling -k(ə-)liŋ)
Etymology: Middle English tikelen; akin to Old English tinclian to tickle
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to excite or stir up agreeably : please
music…does more than tickle our sense of rhythm — Edward Sapir
b. : to provoke to laughter or merriment : amuse
were tickled by the clown's antics
2. : to touch (as a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements
3. : to touch or stir gently
a pianist tickling the ivories
intransitive verb
1. : to have a tingling or prickling sensation
my back tickle s
2. : to excite the surface nerves to prickle
II. noun
Date: 1801
1. : the act of tickling
2. : a tickling sensation
3. : something that tickles