tic

[ tik ]
/ tɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR tic ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Pathology.
  1. a sudden, spasmodic, painless, involuntary muscular contraction, as of the face.
  2. tic douloureux.
a persistent or recurrent behavioral trait; personal quirk: her distinctive verbal tics.

Origin of tic

1790–1800; < French (of expressive orig.)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tic

tic tick

Words nearby tic

tibial nerve, tibiofibular, tibiotarsus, tibullus, tibur, tic, tic douloureux, tic-tac-toe, tical, ticarcillin disodium, tichy

Definition for tic (2 of 2)

-tic

a suffix, equivalent in meaning to -ic, occurring in adjectives of Greek origin (analytic), used especially in the formation of adjectives from nouns with stems in -sis: hematotic; neurotic.

Origin of -tic

< Greek -tikos, extracted from adjectives derived with -ikos -ic from agent nouns ending in -tēs; cf. hieratic

Words related to tic

twitch, jerk, fit, contraction

Example sentences from the Web for tic

British Dictionary definitions for tic

tic
/ (tɪk) /

noun pathol

spasmodic twitching of a particular group of muscles
See tic douloureux

Word Origin for tic

C19: from French, of uncertain origin; compare Italian ticche

Medical definitions for tic

tic
[ tĭk ]

n.

A habitual spasmodic muscular movement or contraction, usually of the face or extremities. habit spasm