tic

tic

noun \ˈtik\

Definition of TIC

1

: local and habitual spasmodic motion of particular muscles especially of the face : twitching

2

: a frequent usually unconscious quirk of behavior or speech <“you know” is a verbal tic>

Examples of TIC

1. The verbal tic “you know” often occurs in her speech.
2. <constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics>

Origin of TIC

French

First Known Use: circa 1834

Related to TIC

Synonyms: crotchet, curiosity, eccentricity, erraticism, individualism, kink, mannerism, oddity, peculiarity, quiddity, quip, quirk, singularity, idiosyncrasy, trick, twist

Related Words: affectation, airs; attribute, characteristic, mark, property, trait; custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), way, wont; addiction; abnormality, neuroticism, perversion, weirdness; disposition, genius, leaning, partiality; bent, inclination, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn; attitude, character, humor, identity, individuality, nature, personality, temperament

Near Antonyms: conformity, sameness

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Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with TIC

brick, chick, click, crick, creek, Dick, flick, Frick, hick, kick, KWIC, lick, mick, nick, pic, pick, prick, quick, rick, Schick, shtick, sic, sick, slick, snick, stick, thick, tick, trick, wick