tickle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a cutaneous sensation often resulting from light stroking
  2. noun the act of tickling
    titillation; tickling.
  3. verb touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements
    titillate; vellicate.
  4. verb feel sudden intense sensation or emotion
    thrill; vibrate.
    • he was thrilled by the speed and the roar of the engine
  5. verb touch or stroke lightly
    • The grass tickled her calves

WordNet

Tic"kle transitive verb
Etymology
Perhaps freq. of tick to beat; pat; but cf. also AS. citelian to tickle, D. kittelen, G. kitzlen, OHG. chizzilon, chuzzilon, Icel. kitla. Cf. Kittle, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Tickled ; present participle & verbal noun Tickling
Definitions
  1. To touch lightly, so as to produce a peculiar thrilling sensation, which commonly causes laughter, and a kind of spasm which become dengerous if too long protracted.
    If you tickle us, do we not laugh? Shak.
  2. To please; to gratify; to make joyous.
    Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. Pope.
    Such a nature Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon. Shak.
Tic"kle intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To feel titillation.
    He with secret joy therefore Did tickle inwardly in every vein. Spenser.
  2. To excite the sensation of titillation. Shak.
Tic"kle adjective
Definitions
  1. Ticklish; easily tickled. Obs.
  2. Liable to change; uncertain; inconstant. Obs.
    The world is now full tickle, sikerly. Chaucer.
    So tickle is the state of earthy things. Spenser.
  3. Wavering, or liable to waver and fall at the slightest touch; unstable; easily overthrown. Obs.
    Thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Shak.

Webster 1913