- 1 [countable] (British English) (North American English check 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. You can put a mental tick against all the food items for the party. compare cross, X
- 2 [countable] a very small creature that bites humans and animals and sucks their blood. There are several types of tick, some of which can carry diseases. a tick bite See related entries: Invertebrates
- 3(also ticking) [uncountable] a short, light, regularly repeated sound, especially that of a clock or watch The only sound was the soft tick of the clock. The loud tick of the hall clock kept me awake.
- 4[countable] (British English, informal) a moment Hang on a tick! I'll be with you in two ticks.
- 5[uncountable] (old-fashioned, British English, informal) permission to delay paying for something that you have bought synonym credit Can I have these on tick? Word Originnoun sense 1 and 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.
Check pronunciation: tick
