Webster's English Dictionary

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tick

Cross references:
  1. sheep ked             
 
1. tick \'tik\ n [ME tyke, teke; akin to MHG zeche tick, Arm tiz] 1: any of 
   numerous bloodsucking arachnids that form a superfamily (Ixodoide a of the 
   order Acarina), 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 usu. wingless parasitic dipterous 
   insects 
2. tick n [ME tek; akin to MHG zic light push] 1a: a light rhythmic audible 
   tap or beat; also : a series of such t icks chiefly Brit  1b: the time 
   taken by the tick of a clock : MOMENT  2: a small spot or mark; esp : one 
   used to direct attention to some thing, to check an item on a list, or to 
   represent a point on a scale
3. tick vi 1: to make the sound of a tick or a series of ticks  2: to 
   operate as a functioning mechanism : RUN {tried to underst and what made 
   him ~} 1: to mark with a written tick : CHECK  2: to mark, count, or 
   announce by or as if by ticking beats {a meter @ing off his cab fare}
4. tick n [ME tike, prob. fr. MD; akin to OHG ziahha tick; both fr. a 
   prehist]oric WGmc word borrowed fr. L theca cover, fr. Gk the-ke- case; 
   akin to Gk tithenai to place - more at DO 1: the fabric case of a mattress, 
   pillow, or bolster; also : a matt ress consisting of a tick and its filling 
   2: TICKING 
5. tick n [short for 1ticket] : CREDIT, TRUST; also : a credit account 
   {brought on  ~}