Tic

/tɪk/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A habitual spasmodic contraction of the muscles, often involving the face.

He was embarrassed by the tic that caused his eye to twitch unexpectedly.

An involuntary, repetitive movement or sound.

She had a nervous tic that made her constantly tap her fingers on the table.

A habitual, fixed, or distinctive feature or expression.

The comedian had a signature tic that added to his comedic style.

From French 'tic', from Latin 'thica', of imitative origin.

motor tic

An involuntary movement of a muscle or group of muscles.

vocal tic

An involuntary sound or vocalization.

tourette syndrome

A neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations.

habit

A regular practice or routine that is hard to give up.

A nervous habit or quirk.

Stop with the tic already; you're making everyone uncomfortable!

A quirk or odd behavior someone does unconsciously.

He has this tic where he always shakes his leg when he's anxious.