tic

To exhibit a tic; to undergo a sudden, semi-voluntary muscle movement.

Noun medicine, neurology

  1. A sudden, nonrhythmic motor movement or vocalization.
    • Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by multiple tics. A tic is a sudden, rapid, repetitive, non-rhythmic movement (e.g. eye blinking) or vocalization (e.g. throat clearing). - 2020, Andrea...
  2. Something that is done or produced habitually or characteristically.
    • Boyle revives some of the stylistic tics which found themselves being ripped off by geezer-gangster Britflicks back in the day, but now the freezeframes are briefer, sharper; the movie itself refers back to the original...

Origin

Etymology tree French ticbor. English tic Borrowed from French tic.

Forms

tics

Derived

ticcer ticcy ticless ticlike

Noun abbreviation, alt of

  1. Clipping of ticket.

Origin

Clipping of ticket.

Forms

tics

Related

tic douloureux tic tac tic-tac-toe trip tic

Derived

tix

Verb

  1. To exhibit a tic; to undergo a sudden, semi-voluntary muscle movement.
    • Patients often describe the need to tic as the mounting of inner tension, localized either to the body region where the tic is about to occur or throughout the body. - 2020, Andrea E. Cavanna, Pharmacological Treatment...

Forms

tics ticcing ticced