put a check mark on or near or next to Please check each name on the list tick off the items mark off the units sew tick a mattress any of two families of small parasitic arachnids with barbed proboscis; feed on blood of warm-blooded animals make a sound like a clock or a timer the clocks were ticking the grandfather clock beat midnight make a clicking or ticking sound The clock ticked away a light mattress a mark indicating that something has been noted or completed etc. as he called the roll he put a check mark by each student's name a metallic tapping sound he counted the ticks of the clock