clipping

American  

[klip-ing] / ˈklɪp ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that clips.

2. a piece clipped off or out, especially an article, advertisement, etc., clipped from a newspaper or magazine.

3. clipped form.

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adjective

1. serving or tending to clip.

2. Informal. swift.

   a clipping pace.

clipping British  

/ ˈklɪpɪŋ /

noun

1. something cut out or trimmed off, esp an article from a newspaper; cutting

2. the distortion of an audio or visual signal in which the tops of peaks with a high amplitude are cut off, caused by, for example, overloading of amplifier circuits

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adjective

1. informal (prenominal) fast

   a clipping pace

Other Word Forms

• clippingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of clipping

1300–50; Middle English. See clip ¹, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In many instances, teams are using high-speed parts of the track to reduce engine output to the rear axle and charge the battery instead, a process known as "clipping".

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher netted the second before the break at the end of a smooth Atletico move, with his shot clipping Vitor Reis to divert in at the near post.

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

She was always clipping recipes she wanted to try and altering them to perfection.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

Try clipping them to the cuff of your shoes to mimic werewolf legs.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2025

We’re in his classroom, and I watch as his strong, graceful hands sort stacks of papers, clipping them into groups as he thinks.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen