tic
tic Lexical Profile
tic Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A habitual, sudden, and involuntary contraction of the muscles, most commonly in the face or neck, or a repetitive vocalization.
"Stress and fatigue often worsened the nervous tic near the corner of his left eye."
An idiosyncratic, persistent, and often unconscious behavioral trait or verbal habit.
"Starting every sentence with 'honestly' had become a noticeable verbal tic during his interviews."
• verb
To undergo or exhibit an involuntary spasmodic twitch or vocalization.
"A muscle in his jaw began to tic noticeably as he waited for the verdict."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'tic' (an involuntary muscle twitch or habitual quirk) with its homophone 'tick' (a blood-sucking arachnid, a checkmark, or the sound of a clock).
• Rhymes for tic
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 19th century from French 'tic' (a twitching disease in horses or a human spasm), likely of imitative origin.