1. (

• tick ,
• ticking

) a metallic tapping sound; "he counted the ticks of the clock" ;

2. (

• tick

) any of two families of small parasitic arachnids with barbed proboscis; feed on blood of warm-blooded animals ;

3. (

• check_mark ,
• check ,
• tick

) a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed etc.; "as he called the role he put a check mark by each student's name" ;

4. (

• tick

) a light mattress ;

1. (

• click ,
• tick

) make a clicking or ticking sound; "The clock ticked away" ;

2. (

• tick ,
• ticktock ,
• ticktack ,
• beat ,

) make a sound like a clock or a timer; "the clocks were ticking"; "the grandfather clock beat midnight" ;

3. (

• tick ,
• retick

) sew; "tick a mattress" ;

4. (

• check ,
• check_off ,
• mark ,
• mark_off ,
• tick_off ,
• tick

) put a check mark on or near or next to; "Please check each name on the list"; "tick off the items"; "mark off the units" ;