ticking
27
1.2
- noun
- /ˈtɪkɪŋ/
:
tic-tac
- Late at night, I lay awake, listening to the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.
- ticking clock
It's either fine slicing like that or tick, tick.
- It's either fine slicing like that or tick, tick.
Examples
-
I could hear my father's breathing and the ticking of the clock on his nightstand.
Fiction book (1993) -
As I locked the shutters, the ticking of the large wall clock grew louder.
Fiction book (1994) -
Let us take a very simple example, the ticking of a clock.
-
The clock is ticking at a very rapid speed.
-
The house was very still; how loud the ticking of the clock sounded.
Fiction book (1992) -
Now, do you know the dull ticking sound a watch makes when it's wrapped in cotton?
Fiction book (2002) -
No sounds were in the house, just the ticking of the grandfather clock in the foyer.
Fiction book (1996) -
While Nora had her tea, there was no sound but the ticking of the ormolu clock.
Fiction book (1999) -
Em's piece marched out into the room, as sure of itself as the ticking of a clock.
Fiction book (1995) -
The clock on the wall made its ticking sound and rang with its bells that vibrated.
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
73
1.0
A short sharp sound you hear when a switch or latch moves
34
2.0
A short light tapping sound from a clock or watch
22
1.9
A light repeated sound made by gentle knocks
5
5.9
A steady ticking sound like the one a clock makes
1
3.3
The regular sound a clock makes as time passes
1
7.7
A quick series of soft clicking sounds from machines or hard things hitting together
A steady ticking sound that a clock makes
A fast, rhythmic clicking sound made by machines or repeated actions
Antonyms
Idioms
1
9.2
To keep going without giving up after facing many hard times
Compounds
How Regular
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Ticking for the sound comes from the little word tick, which copies the short, sharp noise clocks make like 'tick-tock'. So ticking is the steady, light tapping or clicking you hear from a clock.