click
click
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling:
/klɪk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
click:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/l/ - voiced lateral approximant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: click
Plural: clicks
Verb:
Base form: click
Third-person singular present: clicks
Past tense: clicked
Past participle: clicked
Present participle: clicking
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A short, sharp, often dry sound, typically produced by a light impact or the rapid movement of a small mechanism.
Synonyms: snap, pop, tap, clack
Antonyms: silence, hush
Definition 2: In computing, the act of pressing a button on a mouse or similar input device, typically to select an item or activate a function on a screen.
Synonyms: selection, activation (in context)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the action itself, but inaction could be considered)
Definition 3: An instance of sudden understanding, recognition, or agreement, often accompanied by a sense of clarity.
Synonyms: realization, insight, epiphany, breakthrough
Antonyms: confusion, misunderstanding, obscurity
Verb
Definition 1: To make a short, sharp, often dry sound.
Synonyms: snap, pop, tap, clack
Antonyms: hush, quiet
Definition 2: In computing, to press a button on a mouse or similar input device.
Synonyms: select, activate, choose (in context)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym for the action, but "unclick" might be used for certain software functions)
Definition 3: To become suddenly clear, understood, or accepted.
Synonyms: grasp, comprehend, register, resonate
Antonyms: confuse, baffle, elude
Definition 4: To be successful or work out well, especially in a way that suggests a good fit or compatibility.
Synonyms: gel, mesh, connect, harmonize
Antonyms: clash, conflict, fail
Definition 5: To attract or appeal to someone.
Synonyms: appeal, attract, resonate with, connect with
Antonyms: repel, deter, alienate
Examples of Use
Books:
"With a soft click, the lock disengaged, and he pushed the heavy door open, revealing the dusty antechamber." (From "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides, February 2019)
"Then, with a sudden click, she understood the hidden meaning of his words, and a chill ran down her spine." (From "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, August 2018)
Newspapers:
"New regulations aim to streamline the process, making it easier for citizens to click and apply for permits online." (The Guardian)
"The click of the photographer's shutter punctuated the solemn silence of the memorial service." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Before you click 'submit,' double-check all your information to avoid errors." (Lifehacker.com)
"Our latest review analyzes why some products just click with consumers, while others fall flat." (TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Dialogue: "Did you hear that click? I think someone just locked the door." (Often heard in thriller or suspense films, e.g., "A Quiet Place Part II," May 2021)
Video Game Instruction: "Press 'X' to click and drag items in your inventory." (Common in role-playing games like "Baldur's Gate 3," August 2023)
Music Lyrics: "And suddenly it all just clicked, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place." (From the song "Click" by Charlie Puth, October 2023)
Social Media Post: "That moment when your new outfit just clicks and you feel absolutely amazing! #fashion #ootd" (Instagram)
General Public Discourse:
"The two of them really click; they're always laughing and finishing each other's sentences." (Heard in everyday conversation)
"I just couldn't get the concept to click in my head during the lecture, no matter how many times he explained it." (Common in educational settings)
"Can you hear that annoying click from the fan? It's driving me crazy." (Common complaint about a malfunctioning device)
"Make sure you hear the car door click shut before you walk away." (Advice given for safety)
10 Quotes Using Click
"It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter." (Alfred Eisenstaedt)
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." (Ansel Adams)
"The wealth of information now available at the click of a finger amazes me." (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam)
"First was the mouse. The second was the click wheel. And now, we're going to bring multi-touch to the market." (Steve Jobs)
"You see something, then it clicks with something else, and it will make a story." (Stephen King)
"When that shutter clicks, anything else that can be done afterward is not worth consideration." (Edward Steichen)
"I believe when you meet the right person it clicks, and you both know and you start making it work, you know?" (Hunter Hayes)
"It just clicks when you meet the right person." (Mohit Raina)
"Then if your movie clicks with real audiences, you'll be sucked into some sort of Hollywood orbit." (Yahoo Serious)
"Life, and the world, sometimes just kinda click, and things just happen." (Mia Goth)
Etymology
The word "click" is thought to have come about by imitating the sound it describes – it's an onomatopoeic word. Think of the sharp, short sound it makes, and how the word itself sounds similar.
Its earliest known use, with a meaning related to a sharp, short sound, can be traced back to the late 16th century. Specifically, around the 1580s, it was used to describe a sharp, sudden noise, like the snapping of a lock or the sound made by a small mechanism. Over time, this core meaning of a quick, sharp sound expanded to include the actions that produce such a sound, like pressing a button or the sound of something quickly falling into place.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Click
Click into place: To suddenly become clear, understood, or properly organized.
Click with someone/something: To get along well with someone, or to be in agreement or harmony with something.
Click one's heels: To express joy or excitement, often with a sense of triumph.
Click the reset button: To start over or revert to an initial state. (Often used metaphorically for a situation or project).
A click away: Very close or easily accessible, especially in a digital context.
Clickbait: Content, especially online, designed to attract attention and encourage users to click on a link, often by using sensational headlines.
Click through: To navigate from one webpage or link to another.
Hear something click: To understand or realize something suddenly.
To click the shutter: To take a photograph.
Click-clack: An onomatopoeic phrase describing a repetitive clicking sound.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of click from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
