clock

¹ American  

[klok] / klɒk /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring and recording time, especially by mechanical means, usually with hands or changing numbers to indicate the hour and minute: not designed to be worn or carried about.

2. time clock.

3. a meter or other device, as a speedometer or taximeter, for measuring and recording speed, distance covered, or other quantitative functioning.

4. biological clock.

5. Astronomy. Clock, the constellation Horologium.

6. Computers. the circuit in a digital computer that provides a common reference train of electronic pulses for all other circuits.

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verb (used with object)

1. to time, test, or determine by means of a clock or watch.

   The racehorse was clocked at two minutes thirty seconds.

2. Slang. to strike sharply or heavily.

   Somebody clocked him on the face.

3. Slang. to identify (someone) as transgender or as the gender they were assigned at birth, especially when they do not wish to be so identified.

   She clocked me on our first date, but told me she was transgender too.

verb phrase

1. clock out to end work, especially by punching a time clock.

   He clocked out early yesterday.

2. clock in to begin work, especially by punching a time clock.

   She clocked in at 9 a.m. on the dot.

idioms

1. kill the clock, to use up as much game time as possible when one is winning, as to protect a lead in basketball, ice hockey, or football. Also run out the clock.

2. stop the clock, to postpone an official or legal deadline by ceasing to count the hours or minutes that elapse, such as when a new union contract must be agreed upon before an old contract runs out, or when play time in a game must be interrupted for an allowable reason.

3. clean (someone's) clock, defeat; vanquish.

4. around the clock,

   1. during all 24 hours; ceaselessly.

   2. without stopping for rest; tirelessly.

      working around the clock to stem the epidemic.

clock ² American  

[klok] / klɒk /

noun

1. a short embroidered or woven ornament on each side or on the outer side of a sock or stocking, extending from the ankle upward.

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verb (used with object)

1. to embroider with such an ornament.

clock ¹ British  

/ klɒk /

noun

1. a timepiece, usually free-standing, hanging, or built into a tower, having mechanically or electrically driven pointers that move constantly over a dial showing the numbers of the hours Compare digital clock watch

2. any clocklike device for recording or measuring, such as a taximeter or pressure gauge

3. the downy head of a dandelion that has gone to seed

4. an electrical circuit that generates pulses at a predetermined rate

5. computing an electronic pulse generator that transmits streams of regular pulses to which various parts of the computer and its operations are synchronized

6. short for time clock

7. all day and all night

8. an informal word for speedometer mileometer

9. a slang word for face

10. 1. under pressure, as to meet a deadline

    2. (in certain sports, such as show jumping) timed by a stop clock

       the last round will be against the clock

11. to regress

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verb

1. slang (tr) to strike, esp on the face or head

2. slang (tr) to see or notice

3. (tr) to record time as with a stopwatch, esp in the calculation of speed

4. electronics to feed a clock pulse to (a digital device) in order to cause it to switch to a new state

clock ² British  

/ klɒk /

noun

1. an ornamental design either woven in or embroidered on the side of a stocking

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clock More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing clock

• against the clock
• beat the clock
• clean someone's clock
• like clock-work
• set back (the clock)
• stop someone's clock
• stop the clock

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Other Word Forms

• clocker noun
• clocklike adjective

Etymology

Origin of clock¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English clok(ke), from Middle Dutch clocke “bell, clock,” or Old French cloke, cloque, from Medieval Latin clocca, perhaps of Celtic origin (compare Old Irish clocc “bell,” Old Cornish cloch ); ultimately of imitative origin; cf. cloak

Origin of clock²

First recorded in 1510–20; origin uncertain

Explanation

A clock is a device that keeps time, displaying hours, minutes, and often seconds. If there's a clock in your calculus classroom, it can sometimes be hard to keep from watching the minutes tick by. You might have an antique grandfather clock in your hall or an alarm clock beside your bed. Clocks are either analog, with hands that move around a numbered circular face, or digital, showing the time in digits, like 4:27. If you clock your friend as she runs a mile, it means you keep track of how long it takes her. Originally, the word was clokke, "clock with bells," from the Medieval Latin clocca, "bell."

Example Sentences

His lacrosse coach at Loyola High, Jimmy Borell, brings out one of those baseball radar guns twice a year to clock how fast his players can send that ball through a net.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

Just before Walker sent up his miracle shot, the official had looked up and noticed that the clock still had two seconds on it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

With two seconds left on the clock at Chicago Stadium on Dec. 12, 1972, Chet Walker stepped up to the free-throw line with his Bulls trailing the Los Angeles Lakers 106-104.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Sky, the bank says, is an “always-on AI-powered” team member designed to respond to clients’ questions about their financial lives around the clock.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

He cranes his neck to peer at the clock again.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• timer