tick1 verbtick2 noun
ticktick1 /tɪk/ ●●○ verb 
VERB TABLE
tick
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | tick |
| he, she, it | ticks | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | ticked |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have ticked |
| he, she, it | has ticked | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had ticked |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will tick |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have ticked |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am ticking |
| he, she, it | is ticking | |
| you, we, they | are ticking | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was ticking |
| you, we, they | were ticking | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been ticking |
| he, she, it | has been ticking | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been ticking |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be ticking |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been ticking |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- As usual, there was a bomb ticking somewhere and James Bond had to find it.
- I find it impossible to sleep if there's a clock ticking in the room.
- A strong interest in people and what makes them tick.
- But the clock was ticking loudly.
- Even as the trajectory of his thought kept rising in the early seventies, the clock was ticking on his pet project.
- He ticked off those he had just interviewed and wondered which of the rest ought to take up his time and attention.
- His mind noted this fact among others, ticking efficiently on like a water-clock.
- Try to figure out what makes him tick.
- Usually when you wonder what makes people tick you speculate about such things as their motives, attitudes and feelings.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone's character
the combination of qualities that makes someone a particular kind of person, for example a good or bad, honest or dishonest person: · Her behavior last night revealed a lot about her character.· A candidate's character and qualifications are more important than past experience.· What strikes me most about Hamlet is his noble character.
someone's character - use this especially about how someone behaves towards other people, for example whether they are friendly or unfriendly, confident or easily frightened etc: · It's true he can be emotional at times but that's just part of his personality.· This election should be about issues and policies, not about the personalities of the candidates!friendly/nice/warm etc personality: · Yun has a lovely, warm personality.
someone's character - use this especially to say whether someone is naturally good or bad, gentle or severe etc: · Kindness and sympathy were in his nature.· My girlfriend has a rather unforgiving nature so I don't think that I'll tell her.· She was surprised to learn he had a romantic side to his nature.by nature (=use this when saying what someone's usual character is): · She's generous by nature.· I am not by nature a violent man, but these insults were more than I could bear.it's not in somebody's nature: · It was not in his nature to take risks.
the emotional part of someone's character, especially how likely they are to become angry, happy, sad etc: · His calm, quiet temperament made him popular with his colleagues.· My father and I got along very well, having very similar temperaments.the right temperament: · I'm not sure if she has the right temperament for the job.
formal a character that makes it likely that you will behave nervously, jealously etc: · This program may not be suitable for people with a nervous disposition.be of a nervous/jealous etc disposition: · He's considerate and sweet-tempered but of a very nervous disposition.have a nervous/jealous etc disposition: · Sue had a sunny disposition and a warm smile.
British /makeup American someone's character - use this especially to say that someone's character is completely fixed and they cannot change it or control it: · It's not in their make-up to accept defeat.· Her constant attempts to justify her actions tell the reader a lot about her emotional make-up.· This behaviour is part of our genetic make-up rather than our cultural conditioning.be part of somebody's make-up: · Stubbornness has always been a significant part of his makeup.
informal if you know what makes someone tick , you understand their character, desires, and what makes them behave in the way they do: · After working with him for five years, I still don't know what makes him tick.· As a teacher, you need to get to know your students, find out what makes them tick.
sounds made by machines, engines, cars etc to make a continuous sound, for example, like the sound made by bees: · Police helicopters buzzed backwards and forwards over the area all day.· The whole office seemed to be buzzing with the sound of machinery.
to make a soft, low continuous sound like the sound made by some electric or electronic equipment: · The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner.· The computer was still on, humming away.
to make a fairly quiet, regular sound like something turning very quickly and beating against the air: · The video recorder whirred and rewound.· Already the plane's propellers were whirring into action.
an unpleasant long high sound, especially produced by an engine or vehicle running at very high speed: · The sky was filled with the whine and roar of bombers.
also bleep British a high, sometimes repeated, electronic sound sent out by a machine, especially in order to attract someone's attention: · You'll hear a bleep when the photocopier's finished printing.· Someone's pager beeped in the middle of the best scene in the play.
if a car, plane etc engine roars , it makes a very loud noise when it is near full power: · The Ferrari roared and shot off down the road.roar past/along etc (=move with a roaring sound): · There was the sound of a siren and several police cars roared past.
if a clock or other machine ticks , it makes a quiet, regular, repeated sound: · I find it impossible to sleep if there's a clock ticking in the room.· As usual, there was a bomb ticking somewhere and James Bond had to find it.
time passes quickly · The rest of the weekend went too quickly -- he wanted it to last forever.· Today can't go fast enough for me.· The summer seems to have come and gone so quickly.make something go faster/more quickly (=to make work, a journey etc seem to take less time than it really does) · Reading on the train makes the journey go more quickly.· It's great having you to talk to. It makes the time go faster.
if a period of time flies by , it seems to pass very quickly, especially when you have been very busy or enjoying yourself: · The afternoon flew by as they went through the next scene together.· Hours can fly by as I write, and I don't even notice.· Time is flying by quickly now and it seems impossible that there are only three months left.
use this when you are surprised at how quickly the time has passed, especially when you have been enjoying yourself: · Is Richard eight already? Doesn't time fly?· "Hasn't the afternoon passed quickly?" said Carol. "Time flies when you're having fun."
if the minutes, the hours, time etc tick away , it passes, especially when you must do something before a particular time or when you are frightened or nervous: · He had to watch the minutes tick away while the emergency services tried to locate him. · Aware of how the minutes were ticking away, Julia desperately scribbled down the last few answers.
WORD SETSabsenteeism, nounacademic, adjectiveacademy, nounadult education, nounalma mater, nounassessment, nounassessor, nounassignment, nounaudiovisual, adjectiveAV, binder, nounbiology, nounblackboard, nounbursary, nounbusiness studies, nounCAL, nounCALL, nouncareer counselor, nouncareers officer, nouncase study, nounCDT, nouncert., certificate, nouncertificated, adjectivechalkboard, nouncharm school, nounchemistry set, nouncivics, nounclass, nounclassicist, nounclassmate, nouncloze test, nouncoach, nouncoeducation, nouncollege, nouncollegiate, adjectivecommon room, nouncomprehension, nouncomprehensive, adjectivecomputer-literate, adjectivecomputer science, nouncontinuing education, nouncorrespondence course, nouncoursebook, nouncoursework, nouncrash course, nouncredit, nouncrib, verbcross, nouncurriculum, nounD, noundiploma, noundirect method, nounDirector of Studies, noundissect, verbdistance learning, noundistinction, noundo, verbdropout, noundyslexia, nounedify, verbedifying, adjectiveeducate, verbeducational, adjectiveeducationalist, nouneducator, nounEFL, nounELT, nounESL, nounESOL, nounESP, nounessay, nounevening class, nounexam, nounexamination, nounexamine, verbexercise, nounexercise book, nounexternal, adjectiveextracurricular, adjectiveF, fail, nounfellowship, nounfield, nounfield day, nounfield trip, nounfieldwork, nounflashcard, nounflip chart, nounflunk, verbfree period, nounfresher, nounfreshman, nounfurther education, nounglobe, noungoverness, noungrade, verbgraded, adjectivegrade point average, noungrind, nounheuristic, adjectivehistory, nounimmersion, nounineducable, adjectiveinfirmary, nounintake, nounintelligence quotient, nouninterdisciplinary, adjectiveintroductory, adjectiveinvigilate, verbIQ, nounjanitor, nounlearning curve, nounlesson, nounletter, nounletter, verbliberal arts, nounlibrarian, nounlibrary, nounlife science, nounmainstream, adjectivemasterclass, nounmatron, nounmedia studies, nounmnemonic, nounmoderate, verbmoderator, nounmodular, adjectivemodule, nounmultiple choice, adjectivenight school, nounnumerate, adjectiveopen house, nounoral, nounoverqualified, adjectivepapier mâché, nounpass, verbpass, nounpastoral, adjectivepedagogical, adjectivepedagogue, nounpedagogy, nounphonics, nounphrasebook, nounphysical education, nounpicture book, nounplacement, nounplaytime, nounpoli sci, nounpolitical science, nounpolitics, nounprincipal, nounprize day, nounproblem, nounproctor, nounprogrammed learning, nounprotégé, nounquad, nounqualification, nounqualify, verbquick, adjectiverector, nounre-educate, verbrefectory, nounreference, nounreference library, nounrequirement, nounresearch, nounresearch, verbresit, verbresource, nounresult, nounresume, nounretake, verbretake, nounreunion, nounreview, verbrevise, verbrevision, nounrole-play, nounrote, nounscholar, nounscholarship, nounscholastic, adjectiveschool, nounscience, nounscript, nounself-taught, adjectiveset, verbspeciality, nounspelling bee, nounstandard, adjectivestate school, nounstudent body, nounstudent government, nounstudent loan, nounstudent teaching, nounstudent union, nounstudy, verbstudy hall, nounsub, nounsummer holidays, nounsummer vacation, nounsuperintendent, nounteacher, nounteaching, nountechie, nounterm, nounterm paper, nounTESL, nounTESOL, nountext, nountextbook, nountick, nountick, verbtimetable, nountimetable, verbtranscript, nountrimester, nountruancy, nountuition, nountutor, nountutor, verbunderclassman, noununit, noununseen, nounvisual aid, nounvocational, adjectivewhiteboard, nounworkbook, nounworksheet, nounX, nounyearbook, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Just tick the box on your order form. Jane will keep things ticking over while I’m away.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES career women who hear the biological clock ticking
Just tick the box on your order form. Jane will keep things ticking over while I’m away. career women who hear the biological clock ticking (=makes regular quiet sounds that show it is working)· There was no sound in the room apart from a clock ticking.
(=runs slowly while the vehicle, machine etc is not moving)· The taxi waited at the kerb, its engine idling noisily.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· It was half-past two, and the minutes were ticking away till Bobby Anscombe's appearance.· The city Department of Public Works said it should be ticking away on time in several weeks.· Henry sat in his chair as the seconds ticked away.· Is there an institutional time-bomb ticking away?· The clock ticked away on the mantelpiece.· As the seconds before impact ticked away, Poole and Bowman waited with mounting tension.· Above their heads the clock ticked away the last thirty minutes of the old year.· On top of this, the environmental time bomb that has been ticking away for years now seems ready to explode.
· And he seemed to be concentrating on his driving as a minute or two ticked by in silence.· Soon the mornings would be cauldrons of mists, slowly rising and clearing as the mornings ticked by.· At nearby Camberwick Green, life ticked by on the same orderly lines.· I thought of the seconds ticking by, minutes wasted before I had to go back to the dang.· Two seconds of silence ticked by.· Time was ticking by, and she was heading deeper into the unknown depths of Plenty.· Even in the capital, life ticks by with the rhythm of the rice-growing cycle.
· You can stay a long time in neutral, ticking over - provided nothing happens.· These are worries that should be ticking over more or less constantly.· The administration keeps everything ticking over.· Michele had phoned ahead, and his sleek silver Mercedes was waiting for him, the engine ticking over.· When the council's officers work as a team the whole work of the staff will tick over smoothly.· The engine of the big mechanical monster was ticking over with the deep throb of impatient, reined-in horsepower.· The church should resist the temptation to merely tick over.· The Republicans and Democrats tick over with a skeleton staff and then hire specialist consultants for each campaign.
NOUN· The clock ticked up shillings inexorably.· But the clock was ticking loudly.· On the shelf above the hearth a clock ticked slowly.· Even as the trajectory of his thought kept rising in the early seventies, the clock was ticking on his pet project.· It's the men now, as often as not, who hear the biological clock ticking loudest.· As the clock ticked down, Busuttil and his team went to work.· The way Max's biological clock is ticking, it's a wonder Emma didn't call out the bomb squad.· But as Strug was trying to deal with the pain, the clock was ticking and she had to make a choice.
· Pressing his ear to the edge of the door, he listened intently, while a full three minutes ticked past.· It was half-past two, and the minutes were ticking away till Bobby Anscombe's appearance.· The minutes ticked by, and the house seemed to settle for sleep.· As the minutes ticked away towards noon, the bustle subsided and a quietness settled across the gathering.· Rachel holds me as the minutes tick away in the darkness.· With the final minutes of the term ticking away Mr Yarrow had called Murphy Senior and frantic talks had taken place.
· Henry sat in his chair as the seconds ticked away.· As the seconds before impact ticked away, Poole and Bowman waited with mounting tension.· Two seconds of silence ticked by.· I thought of the seconds ticking by, minutes wasted before I had to go back to the dang.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► tick all the right boxes
1[intransitive] (also tick away) if a clock or watch ticks, it makes a short repeated sound: - After working with him for five years, I still don't know what makes him tick.
- As a teacher, you need to get to know your students, find out what makes them tick.
- Nobody can figure out what makes him tick.
- But identifying them, learning about their behaviour and distribution and understanding what makes them tick, requires some enjoyable investigation.
- But they also have ideas about how the social world works and what makes its inhabitants tick.
- He's always been interested in what makes people tick.
- I would listen to what makes you tick and what you like and then be me with those characteristics.
- It's like reading a biography of a favourite author to learn what makes them tick.
- Jody has thought a lot about what makes Red tick.
- Try to figure out what makes him tick.
- Who are these men and what makes them tick?
The old clock ticked noisily.2[transitive] British English to mark a test, list of questions etc with a tick, in order to show that something is correct, to choose something etc SYN check American English: Tick the description that best fits you. Just tick the box on your order form.3what makes somebody tick informal the thoughts, feelings, opinions etc that give someone their character or make them behave in a particular way: I’ve never really understood what makes her tick.4tick all the right boxes informal if something ticks all the right boxes, it does everything that you wanted it to do or is everything you wanted it to betick away/by/past phrasal verb if time ticks away, by, or past, it passes, especially when you are waiting for something to happen: We need a decision – time’s ticking away. The minutes ticked past and still she didn’t call.tick somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb1 British English informal to tell someone angrily that you are annoyed with them or disapprove of them: Mrs Watts will tick you off if you’re late again.2 British English to mark the things on a list with a tick to show that they have been dealt with, chosen etc SYN check off American English: As you finish each task, tick it off. Have you ticked off Kate’s name on the list?3 American English informal to annoy someone: Her attitude is really ticking me off.4 American English to tell someone a list of things, especially when you touch a different finger as you say each thing on the list: Carville began ticking off points on his fingers.tick over phrasal verb British English1if an engine ticks over, it works while the vehicle is not moving: Mark left the engine ticking over and went back inside.2if a system, business etc ticks over, it continues working but without producing very much or without much happening: The business is just about ticking over. Jane will keep things ticking over while I’m away.tick1 verbtick2 noun
ticktick2 noun WORD ORIGINtick1
Origin:
1,3-5 1200-1300 Origin unknown. 2 Old English ticiaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Jeremy waited anxiously, listening to the ticking of the clock on the wall.
- Did you find any more ticks on him you know this is tick season, Mom.
- Do the pages of ticks mean that Fred is a genius or that the work was set at too low a standard?
- Most of the questions may be answered with a tick.
- No sound except the tick from the watch on Suzy's wrist.
- The tick of the Edwardian wall-clock bounced from wall to wall.
- The car made cooling, metallic ticks sitting there, giving off heat as I passed it.
WORD SETS
absenteeism, nounacademic, adjectiveacademy, nounadult education, nounalma mater, nounassessment, nounassessor, nounassignment, nounaudiovisual, adjectiveAV, binder, nounbiology, nounblackboard, nounbursary, nounbusiness studies, nounCAL, nounCALL, nouncareer counselor, nouncareers officer, nouncase study, nounCDT, nouncert., certificate, nouncertificated, adjectivechalkboard, nouncharm school, nounchemistry set, nouncivics, nounclass, nounclassicist, nounclassmate, nouncloze test, nouncoach, nouncoeducation, nouncollege, nouncollegiate, adjectivecommon room, nouncomprehension, nouncomprehensive, adjectivecomputer-literate, adjectivecomputer science, nouncontinuing education, nouncorrespondence course, nouncoursebook, nouncoursework, nouncrash course, nouncredit, nouncrib, verbcross, nouncurriculum, nounD, noundiploma, noundirect method, nounDirector of Studies, noundissect, verbdistance learning, noundistinction, noundo, verbdropout, noundyslexia, nounedify, verbedifying, adjectiveeducate, verbeducational, adjectiveeducationalist, nouneducator, nounEFL, nounELT, nounESL, nounESOL, nounESP, nounessay, nounevening class, nounexam, nounexamination, nounexamine, verbexercise, nounexercise book, nounexternal, adjectiveextracurricular, adjectiveF, fail, nounfellowship, nounfield, nounfield day, nounfield trip, nounfieldwork, nounflashcard, nounflip chart, nounflunk, verbfree period, nounfresher, nounfreshman, nounfurther education, nounglobe, noungoverness, noungrade, verbgraded, adjectivegrade point average, noungrind, nounheuristic, adjectivehistory, nounimmersion, nounineducable, adjectiveinfirmary, nounintake, nounintelligence quotient, nouninterdisciplinary, adjectiveintroductory, adjectiveinvigilate, verbIQ, nounjanitor, nounlearning curve, nounlesson, nounletter, nounletter, verbliberal arts, nounlibrarian, nounlibrary, nounlife science, nounmainstream, adjectivemasterclass, nounmatron, nounmedia studies, nounmnemonic, nounmoderate, verbmoderator, nounmodular, adjectivemodule, nounmultiple choice, adjectivenight school, nounnumerate, adjectiveopen house, nounoral, nounoverqualified, adjectivepapier mâché, nounpass, verbpass, nounpastoral, adjectivepedagogical, adjectivepedagogue, nounpedagogy, nounphonics, nounphrasebook, nounphysical education, nounpicture book, nounplacement, nounplaytime, nounpoli sci, nounpolitical science, nounpolitics, nounprincipal, nounprize day, nounproblem, nounproctor, nounprogrammed learning, nounprotégé, nounquad, nounqualification, nounqualify, verbquick, adjectiverector, nounre-educate, verbrefectory, nounreference, nounreference library, nounrequirement, nounresearch, nounresearch, verbresit, verbresource, nounresult, nounresume, nounretake, verbretake, nounreunion, nounreview, verbrevise, verbrevision, nounrole-play, nounrote, nounscholar, nounscholarship, nounscholastic, adjectiveschool, nounscience, nounscript, nounself-taught, adjectiveset, verbspeciality, nounspelling bee, nounstandard, adjectivestate school, nounstudent body, nounstudent government, nounstudent loan, nounstudent teaching, nounstudent union, nounstudy, verbstudy hall, nounsub, nounsummer holidays, nounsummer vacation, nounsuperintendent, nounteacher, nounteaching, nountechie, nounterm, nounterm paper, nounTESL, nounTESOL, nountext, nountextbook, nountick, nountick, verbtimetable, nountimetable, verbtranscript, nountrimester, nountruancy, nountuition, nountutor, nountutor, verbunderclassman, noununit, noununseen, nounvisual aid, nounvocational, adjectivewhiteboard, nounworkbook, nounworksheet, nounX, nounyearbook, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Put a tick in the box if you agree with this statement. I’ll be with you in a tick (=soon).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES career women who hear the biological clock ticking
1[countable] British English a mark (✓) written next to an answer, something on a list etc, to show that it is correct or has been dealt with SYN check American English: Put a tick in the box if you agree with this statement. I’ll be with you in a tick (=soon). career women who hear the biological clock ticking (=makes regular quiet sounds that show it is working)· There was no sound in the room apart from a clock ticking.
(=runs slowly while the vehicle, machine etc is not moving)· The taxi waited at the kerb, its engine idling noisily.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Then do the same for the team you wish to select - the tick box will then appear.· For information about the degree programme, tick box BA91 on the coupon.· If you prefer the idea of studying a single course as an associate student, tick box OO91.· For more information tick box SOB90 on the coupon.
VERB· What makes us strange creatures tick, Liz, do you know?· Jody has thought a lot about what makes Red tick.· You had to understand and project what made your character tick.· The car made cooling, metallic ticks sitting there, giving off heat as I passed it.· We never get a sense of why anyone is doing what he is doing or what truly makes anyone tick.
· Every time he had a tantrum she put a tick in the appropriate square.· Sometimes Paul puts a tick next to Keith's name, and then Keith remembers a meeting or changes his mind or something.· Paul puts a tick next to Keith's name.
Put a tick in the box if you agree with this statement. → cross22[countable] a very small animal like an insect that lives under the skin of other animals and sucks their blood3[singular] the short repeated sound that a clock or watch makes every second4[countable] British English spoken a very short time SYN moment: I’ll be with you in a tick (=soon). It’ll only take two ticks.5on tick British English old-fashioned informal if you buy something on tick, you arrange to take it now and pay later SYN credit