Ticking

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪkɪŋ

Full definition of ticking

Noun

1. A strong cotton or linen fabric used to cover pillows and mattresses.
• 1897, Kipling, Captains Courageous,Harvey saw with disgust that there were no sheets on his bed-place. He was lying on a piece of dingy ticking full of lumps and nubbles.
2. A sound of something ticking.
• Laman Blanchard, The Frolics of TimeWere they indeed the tickings of a hundred clocks — the fine low inward breathings of Time's children!
3. An illusional style of dance where one moves his or her body to the "tic" of the music creating a strobe or animated effect.
4. A marking that occurs on some horses. It involves white flecks of hair at the flank, and white hairs at the base of the tail, called a skunk tail or rabicano. Sometimes referred to as birdcatcher ticks.

Derived terms

• the clock is ticking

Verb

1. Present participle of tick