Ticking - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Ticking is a strong, tightly woven fabric, often striped, used for mattress and pillow covers. It can also refer to the steady, repetitive sound of a clock or timer.
Definition:
A strong, durable fabric used for mattress and pillow covers, or the sound of a clock.
Synonyms:
clicking, tapping, beating
Part of Speech:
noun, verb (present participle)
Antonyms:
silence, stillness
Common Collocations:
ticking clock, ticking sound, ticking fabric, ticking bomb
Derivatives:
ticked, ticker
Usage Tips:
Use "ticking" for clock sounds or fabric; ensure context clarifies meaning to avoid confusion.
Common Phrases:
ticking time bomb, ticking away, on the clock's ticking
Etymology:
From Middle English "tikken," imitative of a light tap or beat; fabric sense from striped appearance resembling clock marks.
Examples:
- 1. The clock's ticking kept me awake all night.
- 2. She bought striped ticking to make new pillowcases.
- 3. The bomb's ticking grew louder as time ran out.
- 4. His patience was ticking away with each delay.