clip

[ klip ]

/ klɪp /

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See synonyms for: clip / clipped / clipping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), clipped, clipped or (Literary) clipt, clip·ping.

to cut, or cut off or out, as with shears: to clip a rose from a bush.

to trim by cutting: to clip a hedge.

to cut or trim the hair or fleece of; shear: to clip a poodle.

to pare the edge of (a coin).Compare sweat (def. 22).

to cut short; curtail: We clipped our visit by a week to return home earlier.

to pronounce rapidly, with precise articulation and with omission of certain sounds, as of unstressed vowels: an annoying habit of clipping his words.

to shorten (a word or phrase) by dropping one or more syllables.

Informal. to hit with a quick, sharp blow: He clipped him on the jaw with a sudden punch.

Slang. to take or get money from by dishonest means; swindle; rook.

verb (used without object), clipped, clipped or (Literary) clipt, clip·ping.

to clip or cut something.

to cut articles or pictures from a newspaper, magazine, etc.

to move swiftly: He clipped along the highway on his motorcycle.

Archaic. to fly rapidly.

noun

the act of clipping.

anything clipped off, especially the wool shorn at a single shearing of sheep.

the amount of wool shorn in one season.

clips, (used with a plural verb) an instrument for clipping; shears.

film clip.

Informal. clipping (def. 2).

Informal. a quick, sharp blow: a clip on the jaw.

rate; pace: at a rapid clip.

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Origin of clip

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English clippen, cleppen, from Old Norse klippa “to clip, cut”

OTHER WORDS FROM clip

clip·pa·ble, adjective

Words nearby clip

Clinton impeachment, Clintonomics, Clinton, William Jefferson, Clio, cliometrics, clip, clip art, clipboard, clip bond, clip-clop, clip-fed

Other definitions for clip (2 of 2)

clip²

[ klip ]

/ klɪp /

noun

a device that grips and holds tightly.

a metal or plastic clasp for holding together papers, letters, etc.

cartridge clip.

an article of jewelry or other decoration clipped onto clothing, shoes, hats, etc.

a flange on the upper surface of a horseshoe.

Also called lug .Shipbuilding. a short length of angle iron connecting and maintaining the angle between two members or surfaces.

Archaic. an embrace.

verb (used with or without object), clipped, clip·ping.

to grip tightly; fasten with or as if with a clip.

to encircle; encompass.

Football. to block by illegally throwing the body across a player's legs from behind.

Archaic. to embrace or hug.

Origin of clip

First recorded before 900; Middle English clippen, cluppen, cleppen “to embrace, grasp, hold,” Old English clyppan “to embrace, clasp, cherish”; cognate with Old Frisian kleppa

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use clip in a sentence

They’re good for making content more inclusive and watching films in foreign languages, but they also allow you to enjoy videos and video calls in quiet environments, skim through clips more quickly, and even focus more on what you’re watching.
Learn how to add closed captions to video calls, Netflix, and more|David Nield|August 28, 2020|Popular-Science
Its water-proof design floats when dropped in water, so it’s great for the boat or evening fishing trips, and a convenient carabineer clip lets you secure it to a bag when not in use.
Flashlights for emergency scenarios and outdoor fun|PopSci Commerce Team|August 27, 2020|Popular-Science
TikTok is adding users at a clip that far outpaces most social media platforms.
‘Deal of a decade’: How buying TikTok could transform Microsoft|Lance Lambert|August 25, 2020|Fortune
You can repurpose a piece of content to tweet some bits on Twitter, start a discussion on Facebook, post an edited clip on Instagram, or share a concise blog post on LinkedIn.
Four strategies to maintain your social media activity during a crisis|Roman Daneghyan|June 30, 2020|Search Engine Watch

Along with the braids, the researchers developed flexible electrode clips.
Brainwaves of people with coarse, curly hair are now less hard to read|Laura Sanders|May 5, 2020|Science News For Students
In this clip, a teenage Minaj gets heated and throws a phone in a play rehearsal during her tenure at LaGuardia High School.
Nicki Minaj: High School Actress|Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Check out a clip from this exclusive interview with SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace at the 2014 Savannah Film Festival.
Who Is Joe Manganiello? Sofia Vergara’s Fiancé on the Value of Hard Work|The Daily Beast Video|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Going at a reasonable clip, my husband and I travel the trails and side roads near our house.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The clip received heaps of Internet criticism after it went viral, and has since been pulled down from state channels.
Hitler is Huge in Thailand: Chicken Joints, T-Shirts, and A Govt.-Issued Propaganda Video|Marlow Stern|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The country was building houses at a rapid clip, which required a large amount of immigrant labor.
Legal but Still Poor: The Economic Consequences of Amnesty|Joel Kotkin|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"This is the most ungrateful outfit of greasers I ever met up with," cried Clip, hurrying toward the second man.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Clip still had the club he had taken from the Mexican's companion, and he squared away threateningly.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Matt stood at the gate for a few moments, looking for Clip; but, as he could see nothing of him, he went back into the house.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
He was pushing his machine through the gate, and Clip was getting his own wheel and making ready to follow.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
The road was a bit cut up and sandy in places, but Clip whaled his machine along and they did a trifle better than thirty miles.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for clip (1 of 2)

clip¹

/ (klɪp) /

verb clips, clipping or clipped (mainly tr)

(also intr) to cut, snip, or trim with or as if with scissors or shears, esp in order to shorten or remove a part

British to punch (a hole) in something, esp a ticket

to curtail or cut short

to move a short section from (a film, etc)

to shorten (a word)

(intr) to trot or move rapidly, esp over a long distancea horse clipping along the road

informal to strike with a sharp, often slanting, blow

slang to obtain (money) by deception or cheating

US slang to murder; execute

clip someone's wings

to restrict someone's freedom
to thwart someone's ambition

noun

the act or process of clipping

something clipped off

an extract from a film, newspaper, etc

informal a sharp, often slanting, blow

informal speeda rapid clip

Australian and NZ the total quantity of wool shorn, as in one place, season, etc

another word for clipped form

Derived forms of clip

clippable, adjective

Word Origin for clip

C12: from Old Norse klippa to cut; related to Low German klippen

British Dictionary definitions for clip (2 of 2)

clip²

/ (klɪp) /

noun

any of various small implements used to hold loose articles together or to attach one article to another

an article of jewellery that can be clipped onto a dress, hat, etc

short for paperclip, cartridge clip

the pointed flange on a horseshoe that secures it to the front part of the hoof

verb clips, clipping or clipped (tr)

to hold together tightly, as with a clip

archaic, or dialect to embrace

Word Origin for clip

Old English clyppan to embrace; related to Old Frisian kleppa, Lithuanian glebiu

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

clip

Origin of clip

OTHER WORDS FROM clip

Words nearby clip

Other definitions for clip (2 of 2)

Origin of clip

Words related to clip

How to use clip in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clip (1 of 2)

Derived forms of clip

Word Origin for clip

British Dictionary definitions for clip (2 of 2)

Word Origin for clip