clubbing

[ kluhb-ing ]

/ ˈklʌb ɪŋ /

noun Informal.

the activity of going to nightclubs, especially to dance to popular music, drink, and socialize: Clubbing every night is expensive, not to mention tiring.

Nearby words

Origin of clubbing

club + -ing¹

Definition for clubbing (2 of 2)

club

[ kluhb ]

/ klʌb /

noun

a heavy stick, usually thicker at one end than at the other, suitable for use as a weapon; a cudgel.

a group of persons organized for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose: They organized a computer club.

the building or rooms occupied by such a group.

an organization that offers its subscribers certain benefits, as discounts, bonuses, or interest, in return for regular purchases or payments: a book club; a record club; a Christmas club.

Sports.

a stick or bat used to drive a ball in various games, as golf.
Indian club.

a nightclub, especially one in which people dance to popular music, drink, and socialize: Last night we went to all the clubs in town.

a black trefoil-shaped figure on a playing card.

a card bearing such figures.

clubs, (used with a singular or plural verb) the suit so marked: Clubs is trump. Clubs are trump.

club sandwich.

Nautical.

a short spar attached to the end of a gaff to allow the clew of a gaff topsail to extend beyond the peak of the gaff.
a short spar attached to the truck of a mast to support the upper part of a club topsail.
clubfoot(def 3).

verb (used with object), clubbed, club·bing.

to beat with or as with a club.

to gather or form into a clublike mass.

to unite; combine; join together.

to contribute as one's share toward a joint expense; make up by joint contribution (often followed by up or together): They clubbed their dollars together to buy the expensive present.

to defray by proportional shares.

to hold (a rifle, shotgun, etc.) by the barrel, so as to use the stock as a club.

verb (used without object), clubbed, club·bing.

Informal. to go to nightclubs, especially to dance, drink, and socialize: The students at that university go clubbing every Friday night.

to combine or join together, as for a common purpose.

to attend a club or a club's activities.

to gather into a mass.

to contribute to a common fund.

Nautical. to drift in a current with an anchor, usually rigged with a spring, dragging or dangling to reduce speed.

adjective

of or relating to a club.

consisting of a combination of foods offered at the price set on the menu: They allow no substitutions on the club luncheon.

Origin of club

1175–1225; Middle English clubbe < Old Norse klubba club; akin to clump

SYNONYMS FOR club

1 bludgeon, billy.

2, 4 association, society.

12 bludgeon, batter, maul, cudgel.

Related formsin·ter·club, adjectivesu·per·club, noun

Synonym study

2, 4. See circle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clubbing

The global capital of clubbing has a secret—there's an underground war being waged to be the top club impresario in town.
The Battle to Be King of Ibiza Nightlife|Melanie Mendelewitsch|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The two secret ingredients: Poehler and Fey, who transform into clubbing Guidettes with unconventional pickup lines.
Golden Globes Hosts Tina Fey & Amy Poehler’s Funniest Moments (Video)|Kevin Fallon|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her kid sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska) is also hanging out in Detroit and convinces the oldsters to go out for a night of clubbing.
Polanski and Jarmusch at Cannes|Richard Porton|May 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Poolside with an ocean view by day, fine dining and clubbing at night.
Fresh Picks|Chris Santos|December 1, 2009|DAILY BEAST

By clubbing our funds together, we shall do bravely; no fear of that.'
The Old Curiosity Shop|Charles Dickens
Clubbing the piece, I sprang forward, and felled the foremost of the two with a sharp blow on his hat.
The Chainbearer|J. Fenimore Cooper
Tom Bodine took in the situation and sprang forward, clubbing his revolver.
The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border|Gerald Breckenridge
Peter went to his room and, after a due course of clubbing and tubbing, dressed himself with the utmost care.
The Honorable Peter Stirling and What People Thought of Him|Paul Leicester Ford
Saps: a clubbing with weapons made from saplings; synonymous with "timber."
Tramping with Tramps|Josiah Flynt

British Dictionary definitions for clubbing (1 of 2)

clubbing

/ (ˈklʌbɪŋ) /

noun

the activity of frequenting nightclubs and similar establishments

British Dictionary definitions for clubbing (2 of 2)

club

/ (klʌb) /

noun

a stout stick, usually with one end thicker than the other, esp one used as a weapon

a stick or bat used to strike the ball in various sports, esp golfSee golf club (def. 1)

short for Indian club

a group or association of people with common aims or interestsa wine club

the room, building, or facilities used by such a group
(in combination)clubhouse

a building in which elected, fee-paying members go to meet, dine, read, etc

a commercial establishment in which people can drink and dance; discoSee also nightclub

mainly British an organization, esp in a shop, set up as a means of saving

British an informal word for friendly society

the black trefoil symbol on a playing card
a card with one or more of these symbols or (when pl) the suit of cards so marked

nautical

a spar used for extending the clew of a gaff topsail beyond the peak of the gaff
short for club foot (def. 3)

in the club British slang pregnant

on the club British slang away from work due to sickness, esp when receiving sickness benefit

verb clubs, clubbing or clubbed

(tr) to beat with or as if with a club

(often foll by together) to gather or become gathered into a group

(often foll by together) to unite or combine (resources, efforts, etc) for a common purpose

(tr) to use (a rifle or similar firearm) as a weapon by holding the barrel and hitting with the butt

(intr) nautical to drift in a current, reducing speed by dragging anchor

Derived Formsclubbing, noun

Word Origin for club

C13: from Old Norse klubba, related to Middle High German klumpe group of trees, clump, Old English clympre lump of metal

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

Word Origin and History for clubbing (1 of 2)

club

c.1200, "thick stick used as a weapon," from Old Norse klubba "cudgel" or a similar Scandinavian source (cf. Swedish klubba, Danish klubbe), assimilated from Proto-Germanic *klumbon, related to clump (n.). Old English words for this were sagol, cycgel. Specific sense of "bat used in games" is from mid-15c.

The club suit in the deck of cards (1560s) bears the correct name (Spanish basto, Italian bastone), but the pattern adopted on English cards is the French trefoil. Cf. Danish klőver, Dutch klaver "a club at cards," literally "a clover."

The social club (1660s) apparently evolved from this word from the verbal sense "gather in a club-like mass" (1620s), then, as a noun, "association of people" (1640s).

We now use the word clubbe for a sodality in a tavern. [John Aubrey, 1659]

Admission to membership of clubs is commonly by ballot. Clubs are now an important feature of social life in all large cities, many of them occupying large buildings containing reading-rooms, libraries, restaurants, etc. [Century Dictionary, 1902]

I got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it. [Rufus T. Firefly]

Club sandwich recorded by 1899, apparently as a type of sandwich served in clubs; club soda is 1877, originally a proprietary name.

Word Origin and History for clubbing (1 of 2)

club

"to hit with a club," 1590s, from club (v.). Meaning "gather in a club-like mass" is from 1620s. Related: Clubbed; clubbing.

CLUB, verb (military). -- In manoeuvring troops, so to blunder the word of command that the soldiers get into a position from which they cannot extricate themselves by ordinary tactics. [Farmer & Henley]

Medicine definitions for clubbing

clubbing

[ klŭb′ĭng ]

n.

A condition affecting the fingers and toes in which the extremities are broadened and the nails are shiny and abnormally curved.

Idioms and Phrases with clubbing

club

see join the club.

clubbing

noun Informal.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of clubbing

Definition for clubbing (2 of 2)

club

noun

verb (used with object), clubbed, club·bing.

verb (used without object), clubbed, club·bing.

adjective

Origin of club

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for clubbing

British Dictionary definitions for clubbing (1 of 2)

clubbing

noun

British Dictionary definitions for clubbing (2 of 2)

club

noun

verb clubs, clubbing or clubbed

Word Origin for club

Word Origin and History for clubbing (1 of 2)

club

Word Origin and History for clubbing (1 of 2)

club

Medicine definitions for clubbing

clubbing

n.

Idioms and Phrases with clubbing

club