IPA: /klɪk/
KK: /klɪk/
To make a short, sharp sound, often by pressing a button or by two objects hitting each other.
When I clicked the mouse, the program opened immediately.
Past: clicked
Past Participle: clicked
A short, sharp sound made by something clicking, like a door latch or a mouse button.
I heard a click when I closed the door.
To press a button on a device, like a mouse, to select something or perform an action.
She clicked the mouse to open the file.
Past: clicked
Past Participle: clicked
The word 'click' originates from the late 19th century, likely imitative of the sound made by a small, sharp noise, such as that of a latch or a switch. It does not have clear roots in Latin, Greek, or Old French.
Think of the sharp sound that something makes when it snaps into place — that's what 'click' refers to.