click

¹

[ klik ]

noun

1. a slight, sharp sound:

   At the click of the latch, the dog barked.

2. a small device for preventing backward movement of a mechanism, as a detent or pawl.
3. Phonetics. any one of a variety of ingressive, usually implosive, speech sounds, phonemic in some languages, produced by suction occlusion and plosive or affricative release.
4. any one of a variety of familiar sounds used in calling or urging on horses or other animals, in expressing reprimand or sympathy, or produced in audible kissing.
5. Computers. the act of rapidly depressing and releasing a button on a mouse or other input device, usually the left-hand button, as to select an icon.

verb (used without object)

1. to emit or make a slight, sharp sound, or series of such sounds, as by the cocking of a pistol:

   The door clicked shut.

2. Informal.
   1. to succeed; make a hit:

      If the play clicks, the producer will be rich.

   2. to fit together; function well together:

      They get along in public, but their personalities don't really click.

   3. to become intelligible.
3. Computers. to rapidly depress and release one of the buttons on a mouse or other input device, usually the left-hand button: Compare right-click ( def 1 ).

   Just click on the link to get to the site.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to click.
2. to strike together with a click:

   He clicked his heels and saluted.

3. Computers.
   1. to select (a screen object) by rapidly depressing and releasing one of the buttons on a mouse or other input device, usually the left-hand button: Compare right-click ( def 2 ).

      Click “OK” to continue .

   2. to rapidly depress and release (a button on a mouse or other input device):

      Click the trackpad button once.

click

²

or klick, klik

[ klik ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a kilometer.

click

/ klɪk /

noun

1. a short light often metallic sound
2. 1. the locking member of a ratchet mechanism, such as a pawl or detent
   2. the movement of such a mechanism between successive locking positions
3. phonetics any of various stop consonants, found in Khoisan and as borrowings in southern Bantu languages, that are produced by the suction of air into the mouth
4. slang.
   a kilometre
5. computing an act of pressing and releasing a button on a mouse

verb

1. to make or cause to make a clicking sound

   to click one's heels

2. usually foll by on computing to press and release (a button on a mouse) or to select (a particular function) by pressing and releasing a button on a mouse
3. slang.
   intr to be a great success

   that idea really clicked

4. informal.
   intr to become suddenly clear

   it finally clicked when her name was mentioned

5. slang.
   intr to go or fit together with ease

   they clicked from their first meeting

Derived Forms

• ˈclicker, noun

Other Words From

• clickless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of click¹

First recorded in 1575–85; perhaps imitative, but perhaps from Dutch klikk (noun), klikken (verb)

Origin of click²

First recorded in 1950–55; originally U.S. military slang; further origin unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of click¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Consumers also can cancel streaming services with a click of a button — without haggling with a customer service representative at a pay-TV company call center.

From Los Angeles Times

But our experience in Turkey showed us that - to date - it’s still possible to connect with a smuggler at the click of a button.

From BBC

They also appear in the film's ending where Glinda shows Dorothy she can go home if she closes her eyes and clicks the slippers' heels together.

From BBC

It took just a few clicks to confirm the orders - in one case just two - in a standard online transaction.

From BBC

It started to click when people started asking me how much my shirts were.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• get on