ticking

/ˈtɪkɪŋ/
verb
  1. Present participle of tick; making a light, repeated clicking sound, like a clock.
    • I could hear the timer ticking in the kitchen.
    • The old clock was ticking loudly in the hallway.
    • The seconds were ticking away as she waited for the test results.
  2. Present participle of tick; marking an item on a list with a check mark.
    • He kept ticking boxes on the form without reading the questions.
    • She was ticking off each task on her to-do list.
    • The teacher was ticking the correct answers on the students' papers.
noun
  1. A strong, durable cotton or linen fabric, often striped, used especially for covering mattresses and pillows.
    • The mattress was covered in blue and white ticking.
    • Pillows made from ticking are known for their durability.
    • She bought ticking fabric to reupholster the old armchair.
  2. The sound made by a clock or watch as it marks time.
    • The only sound in the room was the steady ticking of the grandfather clock.
    • The ticking stopped, and she knew the watch had run out of battery.
    • He found the loud ticking of his alarm clock annoying at night.