click

UK: /ˈklɪk/ US: /klɪk/ ,(klik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

click¹ /klɪk/   n. [countable]

1. a slight, sharp sound:
   the click of the key in a latch.

v. 

2. to (cause to) give off or make such a sound: [no object]
   The lock clicked softly.
   [~ + object]
   He clicked the light switch on.
3. Informal Terms [no object] Informal.
   • to succeed;
     make a hit:
     His career finally clicked with that hit record.
   • to fit together;
     function well together: Their personalities don't click.
   • to become suddenly clear or understood:
     His mind clicked and he figured a way out.
4. Computing to press and release a mouse button rapidly, as to select an icon:
   [~ + on + object] Click on the trash icon to erase the file.
5. [~ + object] to strike together with a click:
   He clicked his heels and saluted.

click•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

click¹  (klik), n. 

1. a slight, sharp sound:
   At the click of the latch, the dog barked.
2. a small device for preventing backward movement of a mechanism, as a detent or pawl.
3. Phonetics any one of a variety of ingressive, usually implosive, speech sounds, phonemic in some languages, produced by suction occlusion and plosive or affricative release.
4. any one of a variety of familiar sounds used in calling or urging on horses or other animals, in expressing reprimand or sympathy, or produced in audible kissing.

v.i. 

5. to emit or make a slight, sharp sound, or series of such sounds, as by the cocking of a pistol:
   The door clicked shut.
6. Informal Terms
   • to succeed;
     make a hit:
     If the play clicks, the producer will be rich.
   • to fit together;
     function well together:
     They get along in public, but their personalities don't really click.
   • to become intelligible.
7. Computing to depress and release a mouse button rapidly, as to select an icon.

v.t. 

8. to cause to click.
9. to strike together with a click:
   He clicked his heels and saluted.

• Dutch klick (noun, nominal), klikken (verb, verbal)
• perh. imitative, but perh. 1575–85

click′less, adj. 

click²  (klik), n. [Slang.]

1. Weights and Measures, Slang Terms a kilometer.

Also, klick, klik. 

• probably special use of click¹, but sense development unclear 1970–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

click / klɪk/ noun

1. a short light often metallic sound
2. the locking member of a ratchet mechanism, such as a pawl or detent
3. any of various stop consonants, found in Khoisan and as borrowings in southern Bantu languages, that are produced by the suction of air into the mouth

verb

1. to make or cause to make a clicking sound: to click one's heels
2. (usually followed by on) to press and release (a button on a mouse) or to select (a particular function) by pressing and releasing a button on a mouse
3. (intransitive) to be a great success: that idea really clicked
4. (intransitive) to become suddenly clear: it finally clicked when her name was mentioned
5. (intransitive) to go or fit together with ease: they clicked from their first meeting

Etymology: 17th Century: of imitative origin