tick off

tick ¹  (tk)

n.

1. A light, sharp, clicking sound made repeatedly by a machine, such as a clock.

2. Chiefly British A moment.

3. A light mark used to check off or call attention to an item.

4. Informal A unit on a scale; a degree: when interest rates move up a tick.

v. ticked, tick·ing, ticks

v.intr.

1. To emit recurring clicking sounds: as the clock ticked.

2. To function characteristically or well: machines ticking away; curious about what makes people tick.

v.tr.

1. To count or record with or as if with the sound of ticks: a clock ticking the hours; a taxi meter ticking the fare.

2. To mark or check off (a listed item) with a tick: ticked off each name as the roll was called.

Phrasal Verb:

tick off Informal

To make angry or annoyed: Constant delays ticked me off.

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[Middle English tek, light tap.]

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tick ²  (tk)

n.

1. Any of numerous small bloodsucking parasitic arachnids of the family Ixodidae, many of which transmit febrile diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

2. Any of various usually wingless, louselike insects of the family Hippobosciddae that are parasitic on sheep, goats, and other animals.

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[Middle English teke, tik, perhaps from Old English *ticca.]

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tick ³  (tk)

n.

1.

a. A cloth case for a mattress or pillow.

b. A light mattress without inner springs.

2. Ticking.

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[Middle English tikke, probably from Middle Dutch tke, ultimately from Latin thca, receptacle, from Greek thk; see dh- in Indo-European roots.]

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tick off

Verb

1. to mark with a tick, esp. to show that an item on a list has been dealt with

2. Informal to reprimand or scold (someone)

ticking-off n

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

tick off - put a check mark on or near or next to; "Please check each name on the list"; "tick off the items"; "mark off the units" check off, mark off, tick, check, mark check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, suss out, look into, go over - examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition; "check the brakes"; "Check out the engine" receipt - mark or stamp as paid insure, see to it, ensure, ascertain, check, assure, control, see - be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something; "He verified that the valves were closed"; "See that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the product" verify - confirm the truth of; "Please verify that the doors are closed"; "verify a claim"