What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Tickle vs Flea - What's the difference?

tickle | flea |

As nouns the difference between tickle and flea

is that tickle is the act of tickling while flea is feast, banquet (especially a drinking feast).

As a verb tickle

is to touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.

As an adjective tickle

is changeable, capricious; insecure.

tickle

English

(tickling)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of tickling.
  • A feeling resembling the result of tickling.
  • I have a persistent tickle in my throat.
  • (Newfoundland) A narrow strait.
  • * 2004 , (Richard Fortey), The Earth , Folio Society 2011, p. 169:
  • Cow Head itself is a prominent headland connected to the settlement by a natural causeway, or ‘tickle ’ as the Newfoundlanders prefer it.

    Verb

    (tickl)
  • To touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.
  • He tickled Nancy's tummy, and she started to giggle.
  • * Shakespeare
  • If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
  • (of a body part) To feel as if the body part in question is being tickled.
  • My nose tickles , and I'm going to sneeze!
  • To appeal to someone's taste, curiosity etc.
  • To cause delight or amusement in.
  • He was tickled to receive such a wonderful gift.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Such a nature / Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow / Which he treads on at noon.
  • To feel titillation.
  • * Spenser
  • He with secret joy therefore / Did tickle inwardly in every vein.

    Derived terms

    (terms derived from the verb "tickle") * tickle someone's fancy * tickle the dragon's tail * tickle the ivories * tickle pink * tickler * ticklish * tickly

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Changeable, capricious; insecure.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.4:
  • So ticle be the termes of mortall state, / And full of subtile sophismes, which do play / With double senses, and with false debate [...].

    Anagrams

    *

    flea

    English

    (wikipedia flea)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) fle, from (etyl) (compare Latin (m)).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small, wingless, parasitic insect of the order Siphonaptera , renowned for its bloodsucking habits and jumping abilities.
  • A thing of no significance.
  • Derived terms
    * flea market * sand flea * sand fly * sandfly

    Etymology 2

    Alternative forms.

    Verb

    (head)
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, p. 74:
  • In this Thwackum had the advantage; for while Square could only scarify the poor lad's reputation, he could flea his skin [...].

    Anagrams

    * * *