Collins English-English Dictionary

tick [tɪk]

1. 1. n a recurrent metallic tapping or clicking sound, such as that made by a clock or watch

2. 2. n [Brit] [informal] a moment or instant

3. 3. n a mark () or dash used to check off or indicate the correctness of something

4. 4. n [commerce] the smallest increment of a price fluctuation in a commodity exchange. Tick size is usually 0.01% of the nominal value of the trading unit

5. 5. vb to produce a recurrent tapping sound or indicate by such a sound

   the clock ticked the minutes away

6. 6. vb [when tr, often foll by off] to mark or check (something, such as a list) with a tick

7. 7. vb See also tick off tick over

8. 8. vb [Etymology] C13: from Low German tikk touch; related to Old High German zekon to pluck, Norwegian tikke to touch

tick [tɪk]

1. 1. n any of various small parasitic arachnids of the families Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae, (soft ticks), typically living on the skin of warm-blooded animals and feeding on the blood and tissues of their hosts: order Acarina (mites and ticks) - See also sheep tick

2. 2. n any of certain other arachnids of the order Acarina

3. 3. n any of certain insects of the dipterous family Hippoboscidae that are ectoparasitic on horses, cattle, sheep, etc, esp the sheep ked

4. 4. n [Etymology] Old English ticca; related to Middle High German zeche tick, Middle Irish dega stag beetle

tick [tɪk]

1. 1. n the strong covering of a pillow, mattress, etc

2. 2. n short for ticking

3. 3. n [Etymology] C15: probably from Middle Dutch tike; related to Old High German ziecha pillow cover, Latin teca case, Greek theke

tick [tɪk]

1. 1. n [Brit] [informal] account or credit (esp in the phrase on tick)

2. 2. n [Etymology] C17: shortened from ticket