a small, blood-sucking arachnid that burrows into the skin of animals and humans, a regular short, sharp sound made by a clock or watch, a mark (✓) used to indicate that an item on a list or a task has been completed

tick off, tick over, tick all the boxes

Formal and Informal Expressions of ticks

In different contexts, you can replace 'ticks' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'arachnid' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'bug' is a commonplace synonym.

ticks: Explore its Definition & Usage

ticks Definition

1a small, blood-sucking arachnid that burrows into the skin of animals and humans
2a regular short, sharp sound made by a clock or watch
3a mark (✓) used to indicate that an item on a list or a task has been completed

Using ticks: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ticks" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I found a tick on my leg after hiking in the woods.
Example
The clock on the wall was ticking loudly.
Example
I put a tick next to each item on my to-do list as I completed it.

ticks Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ticks

Phrases with ticks

tick off
to make someone annoyed or angry
Example
His constant interruptions ticked me off.
tick over
to continue running or operating smoothly and without problems
Example
The engine was ticking over nicely.
tick all the boxes
to satisfy all the necessary criteria or requirements
Example
This candidate ticks all the boxes for the job.

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Summary: ticks in Brief

The term 'ticks' [tɪks] refers to small, blood-sucking arachnids that burrow into the skin of animals and humans. It also denotes the regular short, sharp sound made by a clock or watch, and the mark (✓) used to indicate that an item on a list or a task has been completed. The phrase 'tick off' means to make someone annoyed or angry, while 'tick all the boxes' means to satisfy all the necessary criteria or requirements.