I. ˈklik verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to strike or move with a click : cause to click
click his heels together
clicked down the lid of the card file — Emilie Glen
b. : to produce with clicks — usually used with out
click out a rhythm on castanets
click out a message on a typewriter
2. : to cut out (as parts of a shoe upper) by using a small knife or by operating a die-cutting machine
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a click
the latch clicked as the door closed
billiard balls clicked in the next room
b. : to move with a click
hearing her heels click across the kitchen tiles — Leslie Ford
the camera adjustment lever clicked into position
2.
a. : to fit or agree exactly
personal opinions have their value particularly when they click with experimental results — W.C.Allee
b. : to fit together : hit it off
he thought of Dornford and Dinny and whether they would click — John Galsworthy
explores the nature of the diversity of human beings and their compulsions, what makes them click as mates — David Tilden
we were sitting on the … big town bridge trying to click with a few girls — Walter Macken
c. : to function or operate efficiently, smoothly, and successfully especially in or as one of a team
the platoon's teamwork was still clicking — Mack Morriss
d. : succeed ; especially : to make a hit
the selling aid that clicks … for any promotional effort — Retailing Daily
a movie that clicks
a bit player who finally clicked in a first-rate Broadway play
3. : forge vi 3
4. : to emphasize a musical beat by suddenly quickening the baton's motion toward the end of its stroke
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably of imitative origin
1.
a. : a slight sharp noise (as that made by the cocking of a pistol or the latching of a door)
the click of billiard balls
b.
(1) : a sound that in some languages is a speech sound made by enclosing air between two stop articulations of the tongue, enlarging the enclosure to rarefy the air, and suddenly opening the enclosure : a velaric suction stop
(2) usually capitalized : a language family of Africa including Khoisan, Sandawe, and Hatsa characterized by extensive employment of clicks
c. : the audible movement from one graduation to another in the rear sight of a firearm ; also : such a graduation in a sight
2. : a part (as a ratchet catch or lock tumbler) to control the movement of a mechanism or the movable part of a device: as
a. : detent
b. : a pawl especially of small size
3. dialect England : a sharp unexpected blow or rap
4. of a horse : the act of forging
5. : a sudden flick of a conductor's baton marking an emphatic musical beat
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of cleek (I)
dialect Britain : clutch , seize , snatch
IV. intransitive verb
1. : to catch on
an issue that clicked with the voters
2. : to become clear, understandable, or appreciable
for a moment I don't understand, then it clicks — Joe Levine
also : to produce an understanding or appreciation
something clicked in my mind
3. : to select, activate, or access an item (as an icon or menu option) on a computer screen by positioning the cursor over the item and depressing a button on the mouse or other input device
click on the icon to open the file
also : to depress a mouse button
click here
transitive verb
: to select (an item on a computer screen) by positioning the cursor over the item and depressing a button on the mouse or other input device
click the icon
also : to depress a button of (a mouse)
• click·able -əbəl adjective
V. noun
: an instance of clicking
a mouse click
VI.
variant of klick herein