tick

noun (1)

\ ˈtik

Definition of tick

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : a light rhythmic audible tap or beat also : a series of such ticks

b : the time taken by the tick of a clock : moment

2 : a small spot or mark especially : one used to direct attention to something, to check an item on a list, or to represent a point on a scale

tick

verb

ticked; ticking; ticks

Definition of tick (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to make the sound of a tick or a series of ticks

2 : to operate as a functioning mechanism : run tried to understand what made him tick the motor was ticking over quietly

transitive verb

1 : to mark with a written tick : check —usually used with off ticked off each item in the list

2 : to mark, count, or announce by or as if by ticking beats a meter ticking off the cab fare

3 : to touch with a momentary glancing blow ticked the ball

tick

noun (2)

Definition of tick (Entry 3 of 5)

1 : any of a superfamily (Ixodoidea) of bloodsucking acarid arachnids that are larger than the related mites, attach themselves to warm-blooded vertebrates to feed, and include important vectors of infectious diseases

2 : any of various usually wingless parasitic dipteran flies — compare sheep ked

tick

noun (3)

Definition of tick (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : the fabric case of a mattress, pillow, or bolster also : a mattress consisting of a tick and its filling

2 : ticking entry 1

tick

noun (4)

Definition of tick (Entry 5 of 5)

chiefly British

: credit, trust also : a credit account

Examples of tick in a Sentence

Verb

I could hear the clock tick . His old heart is still ticking. Tick the box next to your choice.

First Known Use of tick

Noun (1)

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1721, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

1642, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for tick

Noun (1)

Middle English tek pat, light stroke; akin to Middle High German zic light push

Noun (2)

Middle English tyke, teke; akin to Middle High German zeche tick, Armenian tiz

Noun (3)

Middle English tike, probably from Middle Dutch (akin to Old High German ziahha tick), from Latin theca cover, from Greek thēkē case; akin to Greek tithenai to place — more at do

Noun (4)

short for ticket entry 1

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Statistics for tick

Last Updated

23 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for tick

The first known use of tick was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for tick

tick

noun

Financial Definition of tick

What It Is

A tick is a minimum change in the price of a security. Also known as a downtick, a minus tick occurs when a security sells at a price less than the preceding sale. A minus tick is the opposite of an uptick.

Although the term is usually used in reference to stocks, it can also apply to bonds, commodities and other traded securities.

How It Works

For example, if there is a trade for XYZ Co. at $15 per share, and the next trade is at $12 per share, the first tick would be at $15 and the second tick would be at $12. (In this example, the XYZ shares are said to be "on a minus tick.")

Before 2001, stocks traded in increments of 1/16th of $1 (about $0.0625). That means that a security had to change by at least that amount. (This is no longer the case.)

Why It Matters

Ticks are important because they indicate the price trend of a stock. They also trigger restrictions on short sales. In the United States, when a stock is on a minus tick, traders are generally prohibited from shorting the stock. This rule (called the short sale rule or the tick test) exists to prevent traders from jumping on the bandwagon to destabilize a stock's price (note that exchange-traded funds can be shorted on a minus tick, however).

Source: Investing Answers

tick

verb

English Language Learners Definition of tick

: to make a small, quick, and often rhythmic tapping sound

: to continue to work or function in a normal way

chiefly British : to mark (something) with a written tick (✓)

See the full definition for tick in the English Language Learners Dictionary

tick

noun

\ ˈtik

Kids Definition of tick

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a light rhythmic tap or beat (as of a clock)

2 : a small mark used chiefly to draw attention to something or to check an item on a list

tick

verb

ticked; ticking

Kids Definition of tick (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to make a light rhythmic tap or a series of light rhythmic taps a ticking clock

2 : to mark, count, or announce by or as if by light rhythmic taps A meter ticked off the cab fare.

3 : check entry 2 sense 5 She ticked off each item in the list.

4 : operate sense 1, function The old car is still ticking.

tick

noun

Kids Definition of tick (Entry 3 of 3)

: a tiny animal with eight legs that is related to the spider and attaches itself to humans and animals from which it sucks blood

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tick

noun

\ ˈtik

Medical Definition of tick

1 : any of numerous bloodsucking arachnids that constitute the acarine superfamily Ixodoidea, are much larger than the closely related mites, attach themselves to warm-blooded vertebrates to feed, include important vectors of various infectious diseases of humans and lower animals, and although the immature larva has but six legs, may be readily distinguished from an insect by the complete lack of external segmentation

2 : any of various usually wingless parasitic dipteran flies (as the sheep ked)