tick

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 [V] ~ (away) (of a clock, etc.) to make short, light, regular repeated sounds to mark time passing: In the silence we could hear the clock ticking. * While we waited the taxi's meter kept ticking away. * a ticking clock / bomb 2 [VN] (BrE) (AmE check) to put a mark (check) next to an item on a list, an answer, etc: Please tick the appropriate box. * Tick 'yes' or 'no' to each question. * I've ticked the names of the people who have paid. IDIOMS what makes sb tick what makes sb behave in the way that they do: I've never really understood what makes her tick. PHRASALVERBS tick away / by / past (of time) to pass: I had to get to the airport by two, and the minutes were ticking away. tick sth<->away (of a clock, etc.) to mark the time as it passes: The clock ticked away the minutes. tick sb<->off 1 (BrE, informal) to speak angrily to sb, especially a child, because they have done sth wrong: I was always being ticked off for messy work. relatednounTICKINGOFF 2 (AmE, informal) to make sb angry or annoyed: I was really ticked off when she was so late. tick sb/sth off (BrE) (AmE check sb/sth off) to put a mark (check) beside a name or an item on a list to show that sth has been dealt with: I've ticked off the names of all those present. * It's a good idea to tick off the jobs on the list as you do them. tick over (BrE) (usually used in the progressive tenses) 1 (of an engine) to run slowly while the vehicle is not moving: The cab was waiting outside, the engine ticking over. 2 (of a business, a system, an activity, etc.) to keep working slowly without producing or achieving much: Just keep things ticking over while I'm away. noun 1 [C] (BrE) (AmE check mark, check) a mark (check) put beside a sum or an item on a list, usually to show that it has been checked or done or is correct: Put a tick in the appropriate box if you would like further information about any of our products. compareCROSS, X(4) 2 [C] a small insect that bites humans and animals and sucks their blood. There are several types of tick, some of which can carry diseases: a tick bite 3 (also ticking) [U] a short, light, regularly repeated sound, especially that of a clock or watch: The only sound was the soft tick of the clock. 4 [C] (BrE, informal) a moment: Hang on a tick! * I'll be with you in two ticks. 5 [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) permission to delay paying for sth that you have bought SYNCREDIT: Can I have these on tick?