Definition of "tick"

tick¹

/tɪk/

noun
plural ticks
1. A tiny woodland arachnid of the suborder Ixodida.

tick²

/tɪk/

noun
plural ticks
1. A relatively quiet but sharp sound generally made repeatedly by moving machinery.
2. A mark on any scale of measurement; a unit of measurement.
3. (computing) A jiffy (unit of time defined by basic timer frequency).
4. (colloquial) A short period of time, particularly a second.
5. (video games) A periodic increment of damage or healing caused by an ongoing status effect.
6. (gaming) Each of the fixed time periods, in a tick-based game, in which players or characters may perform a set number of actions.
7. (Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland) A mark (✓) made to indicate agreement, correctness or acknowledgement.
  Quotations
  Kate's choice to don her pink suit again now, at the height of the Barbiecore trend, shows the royal really does have her finger on the pulse. That, paired with her statement belt and the fact pearls are having a real fashion moment (courtesy of the Met Gala) is three big ticks from us.
  2023 May 26, Natasha Harding, Alexandria Dale, “Kate Middleton just re-wore her Alexander McQueen baby pink trouser suit”, in Women's Health‎
8. (birdwatching) A bird seen (or heard) by a birdwatcher, for the first time that day, year, trip, etc., and thus added to a list of observed birds.
  Quotations
  There are few birders who have not had stringy ticks on their lists at some stage.
  1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 76
  A twitcher's list is very democratic. Each bird counts as one tick. There are no extra points for beauty or rarity. The humble sparrow counts just as much as a Wedge-tailed Eagle or a Paradise Parrot.
  2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 41
9. (ornithology) A whinchat (Saxicola rubetra).
verb
third-person singular simple present ticks, present participle ticking, simple past and past participle ticked
1. To make a clicking noise similar to the movement of the hands in an analog clock.
  Quotations
  As 2020 ticked over into 2021, some 240 worksites were active on HS2's Phase 1 route between London and the West Midlands.
  2021 January 13, Richard Clinnick, “HS2 reaches key milestones and gears up for a busy 2021”, in Rail, page 12
2. To make a tick or checkmark.
3. (informal, intransitive) To work or operate, especially mechanically.
4. To strike gently; to pat.
  Quotations
  Therefore you Preachers out vvith your ſvvords and ſtrike at the root; ſpeak againſt covetouſneſs, and cry out upon it. Stand not ticking and toying at the branches, nor at the boughs, for then there vvill be nevv boughs and branches ſpring again of them, but ſtrike at the root, […]The spelling has been modernized.
  1550, Hugh Latimer, “Sermon XIV. Preached before King Edward the Sixth and His Most Honourable Council, in His Court at Westminster, in the Year 1550.”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, Master Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester. […], volume I, London: […] J. Scott, […], published 1758, page 274
5. (birdwatching, transitive) To add (a bird) to a list of birds that have been seen (or heard).

tick³

/tɪk/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural ticks
1. (uncountable) Ticking.
2. A sheet that wraps around a mattress; the cover of a mattress, containing the filling.

tick⁴

/tɪk/

noun
uncountable
1. (UK, colloquial) Credit, trust.
  Quotations
  When he had no funds he went on tick. When he could get no credit he went without, and was almost as happy.
  1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 2, in The History of Pendennis. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850
  Immediately he got any money he would pay his debt; if there was any over he would spend it; if there was not—and there seldom was—he would begin to go on tick again.
  1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 42, in The Way of All Flesh
  He paid his mother-in-law rent and, when the baker or the butcher or the grocer wouldn't let her have any more on tick, he paid the bills.
  1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, page 190
verb
third-person singular simple present ticks, present participle ticking, simple past and past participle ticked
1. (intransitive) To go on trust, or credit.
2. (transitive) To give tick; to trust.

tick⁵

/tɪk/

noun
plural ticks
1. (obsolete, place names) A goat.

Definition of "tick"

tick1

noun

tick2

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

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tick3

noun

tick4

noun

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verb

tick5

noun

tick¹

tick²

tick³

tick⁴

tick⁵