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Tick - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A tick is a small, blood-sucking arachnid that attaches to the skin of animals or humans. It can also mean a light, repeated clicking sound, like that of a clock.

tick

/tɪk/ /tɪk/

Definition:

A small parasitic arachnid or a light, sharp, recurring sound.

Synonyms:

mite, click, beat, mark

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

silence, stillness

Common Collocations:

tick bite, tick tock, tick box, tick off

Derivatives:

ticking, ticked

Usage Tips:

Use "tick" for sounds or parasites; "tick off" means to annoy or mark as completed.

Common Phrases:

tick all the boxes, on tick, what makes someone tick

Etymology:

Old English "ticca," likely imitative of a light tap or from Proto-Germanic origins for small creatures.

Examples:

  • 1. The clock began to tick loudly.
  • 2. She found a tick on her dog’s fur.
  • 3. Please tick the correct answer on the form.
  • 4. The meeting made him tick with frustration.

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