ticker

American  

[tik-er] / ˈtɪk ər /

noun

• tickers
  plural

1. a telegraphic receiving instrument that automatically prints stock prices, market reports, etc., on a paper tape.

2. a person or thing that ticks.

3. Slang. a watch.

4. Slang. the heart.

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ticker British  

/ ˈtɪkə /

noun

1. slang

   1. the heart

   2. a watch

2. a person or thing that ticks

3. stock exchange the US word for tape machine

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tickers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of ticker

1820–30; 1880–85 ticker for def. 4; tick ¹ + -er ¹

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Explanation

A device that transmits and displays stock prices is called a ticker. The narrow strip of paper on which this information was printed prior to the 1960s was called ticker tape. The financial districts of cities once had masses of used ticker tape—in old movies and newsreels, you can see ticker tape being tossed from windows as confetti during parades. Today stock tickers transmit information electronically. The name ticker comes from the sound the original machines made, similar to a ticking clock (something that, along with your beating heart, can be called a ticker colloquially).

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ticker tickers

“If that underlying product is TLT, it’s telling you that there are bond bulls,” he said, referring to the ticker for the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

"Honestly, I am fine. First of all, I'm getting my old ticker checked out."

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Here were the most active stock-market ticker symbols on MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

The filing doesn’t disclose yet the amount of money Oura intends to raise in the initial public offering, but it plans to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker OURA.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

They pressed their heads tenderly against his bosom, muttering endearing and melodramatic lovey-doveys, even as they also anxiously listened to see if the old ticker really was on its last legs.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Here were the most active stock-market tickers as of 5 a.m.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

Bare still reflexively recites stock tickers out loud when companies are mentioned.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

In April, I mentioned research showing that some companies were boosting their share prices by adding “AI” to their corporate names or stock tickers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

One way to begin your research is to click on the tickers for more about each company.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

The tickers in the saloons nearby fed his gambler's appetite.

From The Tipster 1901, From "Wall Street Stories" by Edwin Lefevre

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