ticking

[ tik-ing ]

noun

1. a strong cotton fabric, usually twilled, used especially in making cloth ticks. tick.
2. a similar cloth in satin weave or Jacquard, used especially for mattress covers.

ticking

/ ˈtɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. a strong cotton fabric, often striped, used esp for mattress and pillow covers

Word History and Origins

Origin of ticking¹

First recorded in 1635–45; tick ³ + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ticking¹

C17: from tick ³

Example Sentences

"The sound you hear is the ticking clock," he said.

From BBC

The measure’s passage will set the clock ticking for a host of changes, many of which will take years to come to fruition.

From Los Angeles Times

With the clock ticking before President-elect Trump is sworn in, Gov. Gavin Newsom is heading to Washington this week to push for the Biden administration to safeguard some marquee California programs on the environment and disaster funding that are likely to be threatened after the Trump takeover.

From Los Angeles Times

"Pieces of space junk are like ticking time bombs," observed Moriba Jah, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

From BBC

"We are facing a crisis of unemployment - for a population that's 2.4 million when you have almost 30% of those people unemployed, it is a crisis. It’s a ticking time bomb," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• breathing
• contemporary