tickle1 verbtickle2 noun
tickletick‧le1 /ˈtɪkəl/ ●●○ verb 
WORD ORIGINtickle1
Origin:
1300-1400 Perhaps from tick ‘to touch lightly’ (16-19 centuries)VERB TABLE
tickle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | tickle |
| he, she, it | tickles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | tickled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have tickled |
| he, she, it | has tickled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had tickled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will tickle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have tickled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am tickling |
| he, she, it | is tickling | |
| you, we, they | are tickling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was tickling |
| you, we, they | were tickling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been tickling |
| he, she, it | has been tickling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been tickling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be tickling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been tickling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I hate being tickled.
- When I was little my older brother would tickle me till tears ran down my face.
- Your beard tickles.
- Her company's over-used slogan always tickled him.
- I remember her complaining joyfully, that the mattress underneath her was tickling her.
- It is not clear where Sir Trevor learned to tickle the ivories.
- She tickled it with her fingers.
- She was tickled just to see Monica Seles and Hakeem Olajuwon.
- The dancers tickled the imaginations of San Franciscans.
THESAURUS
to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time: · Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot!
to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it: · Feel how soft this material is.· I felt his forehead. It was cold.
to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands: · Children should always wash their hands before handling food.· The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care.· Please do not handle the merchandise.
to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things: · She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck.
to move your hand over a surface while pressing it: · Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned.
to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it itches: · The dog kept scratching its ear.· Bob scratched his head thoughtfully.
to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh: · The baby giggled as I tickled him.
to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched: · The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon.
Longman Language Activatorhappy because something good has happened feeling happy because something good has happened or is going to happen: · They returned from their vacation feeling happy and relaxed.· The children's happy faces were reward enough.happy about: · Is she happy about being pregnant?happy (that): · Grandma is so happy that everyone will be there for Christmas.happy to see/hear/learn/be etc: · I'm just happy to be home again.· They were happy to see Flynn looking so much better.happy for somebody (=happy because something nice has happened to someone else): · I'm so happy for you - I know how much you wanted the job.
happy and satisfied that something has happened, especially something that has happened to someone else or something good they have done: · "That was quite a performance," he said, looking pleased.pleased with: · We're all quite pleased with Amanda's progress.pleased about: · His parents were very pleased about his award.pleased to see/hear/learn/be etc: · You'll be pleased to hear that your application has been accepted.pleased (that): · Laurie was pleased that her daughter decided to go to college.
happy about a situation, especially because it has improved or because it is not as bad as it could have been: · We were all glad when it was time to go home.glad (that): · She was glad that the birthday party was a success.· "The meal was excellent." "I'm glad you liked it."glad to see/hear/learn etc: · Viv was glad to learn they'd reached home safely.
informal to feel happy and pleased that something has happened or that someone has done something for you, especially when it is amusing or unusual: be tickled about/with: · Kurt is tickled about all the attention he's been getting.be tickled (that): · We're tickled that the magazine has become so popular.be tickled pink/be tickled to death (=feel very happy): · I'm sure Dick will be tickled pink to see you.
to show in an unpleasant way that you are happy about your own success or someone else's failure or problems: · He has an unpleasant habit of gloating whenever he wins at tennis.· I hate to gloat, you guys, but I told you it wouldn't work.gloat over: · It was horrible to see her gloating over her brother's misfortune.
really enjoying the fact that something good has happened to you or that something bad has happened to someone else: · She seemed almost gleeful when I told her Hope had been fired.· The park was full of gleeful children playing on sleds.
to touch someone or something in a gentle or loving way to move your hand or fingers over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving way: · Miss Poole calmed herself by stroking the cat's fur.· Her mother sat beside her and stroked her forehead until she fell asleep again.· The old priest stroked his white beard as he listened.
to touch someone lightly several times with the flat part of your hand, in order to comfort them or to show them that you are pleased: · "Don't worry," he said, patting her hand gently.· "The baby's due in March," Caroline said grinning and patting her stomach.pat somebody on the shoulder/arm/head etc: · She bent down and patted the dog on the head.
to run your fingers quickly and gently over a sensitive part of someone's body, in order to make them laugh: · I hate being tickled.· When I was little my older brother would tickle me till tears ran down my face.
to move your hand or fingers gently over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving, or sexual way: · Barbara held the tiny baby close and caressed his cheek.· He began caressing her with a surprising gentleness.
to move your hand or fingers over a part of someone's body in a loving or sexual way - use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He sat fondling her feet as she lay back in the armchair.· The women allege that top male executives routinely fondled female employees.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
1[transitive] to move your fingers gently over someone’s body in order to make them laugh: (=be very pleased or amused)
The kids were tickled pink to see you on TV!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN The kids were tickled pink to see you on TV!· So, if a tarantula could tickle your fancy, Ray may be able to help.
Stop tickling me!► see thesaurus at touch2[intransitive, transitive] if something touching your body tickles you, it makes you want to rub your body because it is slightly uncomfortable: Mommy, this blanket tickles. Mazie’s fur collar was tickling her neck.3[transitive] if a situation, remark etc tickles you, it amuses or pleases yoube tickled pink (=be very pleased or amused) The kids were tickled pink to see you on TV!4tickle somebody’s fancy informal if something tickles your fancy, you want to have it or to try doing it: If I see something that tickles my fancy, I’m going to buy it.tickle1 verbtickle2 noun
tickletickle2 noun [singular] 1a feeling in your throat that makes you want to cough: I’ve got a tickle in my throat.2give somebody a tickle to move your fingers gently over someone’s body in order to make them laugh