Tico
Americannoun
-
Ticos
plural
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Tico
First recorded in 1905–10; from Latin American Spanish tico, said to be from Costa Ricans’ predilection for diminutives formed with the suffix -itico
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
By the late ’90s, the company had gobbled up the assets of most of its competitors — classic labels like Tico, Alegre and Inca.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2025
One of the first examples I can remember was the case of Kelly Marie Tran, who was cast as Rose Tico in the 2017 Star Wars movie.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 26, 2024
“Two years ago,” said Marcelino Zamudio, one of two chefs and five owners, including bartender Hector Flora, an alumnus of the late Tico in Washington.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 24, 2023
The series also stars Fred Armisen as Tico, Renaldo's supportive uncle who happily works for a valet parking company.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2022
It was at Chalavia that a peon named Tico Viquez came to Blake with the news of a white man lying ill of black-water fever in a native hut.
From Never-Fail Blake by Arthur Stringer
Vying for a seventh World Cup appearance, the Ticos came in needing to gain ground after draws with Nicaragua and Haiti but their aggressive approach went unrewarded.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025
Costa Rica is reeling from a 7-0 thrashing against Spain in its opener, and it’s anyone’s guess how the Ticos will respond.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 26, 2022
Although the Ticos are unbeaten in their last six games, they stand little chance of qualifying directly for Qatar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2022
Anthony Contreras scored on a bicycle kick in the 30th minute, Christian Gil tied the score one minute later and Joel Campbell put the Ticos ahead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
From Fox News ● Mar. 28, 2022
Even if they haven’t clinched, the Americans might need only to avoid a defeat of a preposterous margin to remain ahead of the Ticos on goal differential.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 25, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
