Pronunciation: [tˈɪkə͡ld] (IPA) 
The word "tickled" is spelled with a "k" instead of a "c" for the /k/ sound. This is because the "k" follows a short vowel sound, which often requires a "k" instead of a "c". The IPA phonetic transcription for "tickled" is /ˈtɪkəld/. The stress falls on the first syllable, with a short "i" sound, followed by a /k/ sound. The second syllable is an unstressed schwa sound, followed by the /l/ sound and the past tense suffix "-ed".
Tickled is an adjective that describes the feeling of experiencing a light, tingling sensation typically accompanied by laughter or a smiling response. The word often refers to the reaction to being touched or stimulated in a sensitive or vulnerable area of the body. When someone is tickled, they may involuntarily giggle, squirm, or recoil in response to the sensation.
The act of tickling can be both playful and mischievous, designed to provoke a lighthearted reaction from the person being tickled. It is often associated with a sense of joy, amusement, or surprise. Tickling is commonly used as a form of affectionate or playful physical contact between friends, family members, or romantic partners.
The sensation of being tickled arises from a sudden and repetitive stimulation of the skin's nerve endings, particularly in the more sensitive regions such as the armpits, feet, or sides. This stimulation triggers a reflex response in the body, resulting in laughter or an attempt to withdraw from the tickling source.
The term "tickled" can also be used figuratively to describe a sense of delight or amusement that is not necessarily related to physical sensations. In this context, it signifies a pleasurable or whimsical feeling experienced due to something humorous, entertaining, or unexpectedly enjoyable.
Overall, tickled refers to the physical or emotional response to light stimulation, often characterized by laughter, joy, or delight.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "tickled" is derived from the Middle English term "tikelen", which originates from the Old English word "tičelian" or "ticcean". The Old English word likely developed from the Proto-Germanic word "*tikilōną". This ancient root is related to the Old High German word "zicchalōn", meaning "to tickle" or "to prick". Ultimately, the word can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*t(e)ik-", which also gave rise to other words related to touch or pricking in various Indo-European languages.
