tic

play

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

See tic defined for English-language learners

See tic defined for kids

Examples of tic in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of tic from the Web

How players behave during changeovers—their quirks, tics and customs—is easily observable.

— stanley kay, SI.com, "The Art of the Changeover," 30 Aug. 2017
Place squares on painted plaque to create tic-tac-toe board.

— sarah newell, Seventeen, "11 Ridiculously Awesome DIY Gifts for Your BFFs," 9 Aug. 2017
Within the mix of brightly colored annuals and perennials, there is a tic-tac-toe game painted on a stone, with decorated rocks for markers, a small sand box and other toys, with cute little figures and colorful blocks strewn among the flowers.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "CASA's garden helps children in time of stress," 7 Aug. 2017
The technical craft of the film is as remarkable as its predecessor, down to the motion-capture effects that register every one of Serkis’s facial tics.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "War for the Planet of the Apes Is an Epic Slog," 12 July 2017
Approximately 10 percent of people who develop brain swelling and meningitis die, and almost half of those who survive have permanent neurological damage, which includes blurred vision, facial tics and memory problems.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "Tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, on the rise in Alabama," 3 July 2017
TIC Gums was not immediately available for comment.

— michael brice-saddler, The Aegis, "Fire marshal: No one injured in Harford County warehouse explosion," 29 June 2017
Some children have debilitating symptoms of OCD, tics and movement disorders and should be followed closely by a PANDAS specialist, such as a pediatric neurologist familiar with this disorder.

— Philly.com, "Strep infection offered a way to end anxiety," 18 June 2017
The driveway is covered with chalk tic-tac-toe games, bicycles and, by the front door, some forgotten plastic Easter eggs.

— insideclimate news, NOLA.com, "Meet the Louisiana girl who is suing the federal government over climate change," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tic

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1834

See Words from the same year

tic Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Near Antonyms

conformity, sameness

Other Psychology Terms

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

TIC Defined for English Language Learners

tic

play

noun

Definition of tic for English Language Learners

: a small repeated movement of a muscle especially in the face that cannot be controlled
: a word or phrase that someone frequently says or an action that someone frequently does without intending to