a slight, sharp, recurring click, tap, or beat, as of a clock.

Chiefly British Informal . a moment or instant.

a small dot, mark, check, or electronic signal, as used to mark off an item on a list, serve as a reminder, or call attention to something.

Stock Exchange .

a movement in the price of a stock, bond, or option.

the smallest possible tick on a given exchange.

Manège . a jumping fault consisting of a light touch of a fence with one or more feet.

a small contrasting spot of color on the coat of a mammal or the feathers of a bird.

to emit or produce a tick, like that of a clock.

to pass as with ticks of a clock

The hours ticked by.

to sound or announce by a tick or ticks

The clock ticked the minutes.

to mark with a tick or ticks; check (usually fol. by off ); to tick off the items on the memo. ?

tick off, Slang .

to make angry

His mistreatment of the animals really ticked me off.

Chiefly British . to scold severely

The manager will tick you off if you make another mistake.

what makes one tick

the motive or explanation of one's behavior

The biographer failed to show what made Herbert Hoover tick.

noun

beat , blow , clack , click , clicking , flash , instant , metallic sound , minute , moment , pulsation , pulse , rap , second , shake , tap , tapping , throb , ticktock , twinkling , winknotes:a tock is more resonant than a tick , check , cross , dash , flick , indication , line , mark , stroke , x *notes:a tock is more resonant than a tick , crack , trice , twinkle , wink

verb

beat , clack , pulsate , tap , thump , ticktocknotes:a tock is more resonant than a tick , acarid , bloodsucker , insect , louse , mite , parasite , pest

phrasal verb

itemize , list , numerate