ticking

1 of 3

noun (1)

tick·​ing ˈti-kiŋ 

: a strong linen or cotton fabric used in upholstering and as a covering for a mattress or pillow

ticking

2 of 3

noun (2)

: ticked marking on a bird or mammal or on individual hairs

ticking

3 of 3

present participle of tick entry 2

Examples of ticking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That’s about as quiet as the ticking of a watch. —Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025

Where Elijah sees the end days of his career, Lee hears the ticking of an egg timer. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025

With the clock ticking on LA’s aging core — the team lost 16 goals from age adjustment heading into the season, the worst mark of the league — a misstep like this could be crushing. —The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025

Highlighting this, event ticking site, Eventbrite is seeing a 92% increase in sober gatherings, redefining the traditional night out with a fusion of wellness, music, and authentic community connections. —Felicia Faber, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

tick entry 4

Noun (2)

tick entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ticking

• clicking
• flicking
• kicking
• nicking
• picking
• pricking
• sticking
• tricking
• wicking
• picnicking
• politicking

Kids Definition

ticking

noun

tick·​ing

ˈtik-iŋ

: a strong fabric used especially as a covering for mattresses and pillows