Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense clips, present participle clipping, past tense, past participle clipped
1. countable noun
A clip is a small device, usually made of metal or plastic, that is specially shaped for holding things together.
She took the clip out of her hair.
2. verb
When you clip things together or when things clip together, you fasten them together using a clip or clips.
He clipped his safety belt to a fitting on the deck. [V n + to/on]
He clipped his cufflinks neatly in place. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
...an electronic pen which clips to the casing. [VERB + to]
His flashlight was still clipped to his belt. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: attach, fix, secure, connect More Synonyms of clip
3. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A clip from a film or a radio or television programme is a short piece of it that is broadcast separately.
...an historical film clip of Lenin speaking.
...a clip from the movie 'Shane'. [+ from]
Synonyms: extract, scene, selection, excerpt More Synonyms of clip
4. verb
If you clip something, you cut small pieces from it, especially in order to shape it.
I saw an old man out clipping his hedge. [VERB noun]
He had already clipped his hair close to the skull. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: trim, cut, crop, dock More Synonyms of clip
Clip is also a noun.
Give hedges a last clip.
5. verb
If you clip something out of a newspaper or magazine, you cut it out.
Kids in his neighborhood clipped his picture from the newspaper and carried it around. [V n + from/out of]
Synonyms: cut out, remove, extract More Synonyms of clip
6. verb
If something clips something else, it hits it accidentally at an angle before moving off in a different direction.
The lorry clipped the rear of a tanker and then crashed into a second truck. [VERB noun]
7. countable noun
If you give someone a clip round the ear, you hit their head fairly lightly with the palm of your hand, usually as a punishment.
The boy was later given a clip round the ear by his father.
Synonyms: smack, strike, box, knock More Synonyms of clip
8. verb
If you clip a small amount off the time taken to do something, you reduce it by that amount.
9. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
An ammunition clip is a metal container on an automatic weapon which holds ammunition.
10. See also bulldog clip, clipped, clipping, paper clip
11.
See at a clip
12. to clip someone's wings
More Synonyms of clip
clip in British English1
(klɪp)
verbWord forms: clips, clipping or clipped(mainly tr)
1. (also intr)
to cut, snip, or trim with or as if with scissors or shears, esp in order to shorten or remove a part
2. British
to punch (a hole) in something, esp a ticket
3.
to curtail or cut short
4.
to move a short section from (a film, etc)
5.
to shorten (a word)
6. (intransitive)
to trot or move rapidly, esp over a long distance
a horse clipping along the road
7. informal
to strike with a sharp, often slanting, blow
8. slang
to obtain (money) by deception or cheating
9. US slang
to murder; execute
10. clip someone's wings
noun
11.
the act or process of clipping
12.
something clipped off
13.
an extract from a film, newspaper, etc
14. informal
a sharp, often slanting, blow
15. informal
speed
a rapid clip
16. Australian and New Zealand
the total quantity of wool shorn, as in one place, season, etc
17. another word for clipped form
Derived forms
clippable (ˈclippable)
adjective
Word origin
C12: from Old Norse klippa to cut; related to Low German klippen
clip in British English2
(klɪp)
noun
1.
any of various small implements used to hold loose articles together or to attach one article to another
2.
an article of jewellery that can be clipped onto a dress, hat, etc
3. short for paperclip, cartridge clip
4.
the pointed flange on a horseshoe that secures it to the front part of the hoof
verbWord forms: clips, clipping or clipped(transitive)
5.
to hold together tightly, as with a clip
6. archaic or dialect
to embrace
Word origin
Old English clyppan to embrace; related to Old Frisian kleppa, Lithuanian glebiu
clip in American English1
(klɪp)
verb transitiveWord forms: clipped or ˈclipping
1.
to cut or cut off with shears or scissors
2.
to cut (an item) out of (a newspaper, magazine, etc.)
3.
a.
to cut short
b.
to shorten by omitting syllables, letters, etc.
4.
to cut the hair of
5.
to cut off the edge of (coins)
6. Informal
to hit or punch with a quick, sharp blow
7. US, Slang
to cheat or swindle, esp. by overcharging
verb intransitive
8.
to clip something
9.
to move rapidly
noun
10.
an act or instance of clipping
11.
a thing clipped; specif., the amount of wool clipped from sheep at one time or in one season
12.
a rapid pace
13. Cinema and Television
a sequence of film, videotape, etc., as a short selection taken from a longer feature or a brief piece inserted in a newscast
14. Informal
a quick, sharp blow
15.
clipped form
Idioms:
at a clip
Word origin
ME clippen < ON klippa
clip in American English2
(klɪp)
verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: clipped or ˈclipping
1.
to fasten with a clip or clips
2. Chiefly Dialectal
to hug; embrace closely
3. US, American Football
to block (an opponent who is not carrying the ball) from behind: an illegal act
noun
4.
any of various devices that clip or fasten things together, grip or hold something, etc.
5.
cartridge clip
6. Obsolete
an embrace
7. US, American Football
an act of clipping
Word origin
ME clippen < OE clyppan, to embrace < IE *gleb- < base *gel-: see climb
More idioms containing
clip
clip someone's wings
COBUILD Collocations
clip
movie clip
Examples of 'clip' in a sentence
clip
Does she mean one of those clip pegs?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The film clips that made a fortune thetimes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Scottish midfielder also clipped the bar.
The Sun (2016)
The competition watchdog also declined to clip the big banks' wings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She crossed lanes, clipped one oncoming car then hit another head-on.
The Sun (2016)
It will take place simultaneously with a screening in LA as lucky fans get to see exclusive clips of the new film.
The Sun (2016)
While there you can also get a 30-second clip shot in one of the houses and have a souvenir picture taken behind the bar of the Woolpack.
The Sun (2016)
See our exclusive clip at the address below.
The Sun (2008)
You should also clip box in dry weather conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His waxy face stills glows an unearthly peach colour above his neatly clipped ginger beard.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The clip attaching his rope to the crane sprang loose during the jump.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Watch clips of both acts online.
The Sun (2011)
But neatly clipped hedges have their beauty too.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In one clip he apparently claims that his band was the catalyst for youth culture itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Each advert screened sepia film clips of suffragettes marching with banners proclaiming the need for votes for women.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Watch our exclusive clip online.
The Sun (2015)
He'll give me a clip around the ear.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He had clipped his parachute to the metal clips on the chest of his harness but could not get through the small hatch.
Len Deighton Bomber
Not So began at a ludicrously fast clip.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They come with twin batteries, two chargers and belt clips.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He was clipping, cutting and punching almost at will although he was caught in the gully with just two runs required.
The Sun (2012)
Once he is satisfied with the fit, the relevant spaces for the toe and quarter clips are cut out using the drawing knife.
Eccles, Lesley Your First Horse - buying, feeding, caring (1989)
I couldn't reach back and give him a clip on the ear.
Ben Nimmo IN FORKBEARD'S WAKE: Coasting Round Scandinavia (2003)
The church where I serve tends to move at a fast clip.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
clip
British English: clip /klɪp/ NOUN
A clip is a small metal or plastic device that is used for holding things together.
She took the clip out of her hair.
American English: clip
Arabic: مِشْبَك
Brazilian Portuguese: clipe
Chinese: 夹子
Croatian: kvačica
Czech: sponka
Danish: clips
Dutch: clip
European Spanish: clip
Finnish: liitin
French: trombone
German: Klammer
Greek: συνδετήρας
Italian: molletta
Japanese: 刈り込み
Korean: 클립
Norwegian: klemme
Polish: przypinać
European Portuguese: clipe
Romanian: clemă
Russian: скрепка
Latin American Spanish: clip
Swedish: klämma
Thai: คลิปหนีบ
Turkish: klips
Ukrainian: затискач
Vietnamese: ghim
British English: clip VERB
fasten When you clip things together or when things clip together, you fasten them together using a clip or clips.
He clipped his safety belt to a fitting on the deck.
American English: clip
Brazilian Portuguese: prender
Chinese: 用夹子夹住
European Spanish: sujetar
French: fixer
German: anklemmen
Italian: fissare
Japanese: クリップで留める
Korean: 클립으로 고정시키다
European Portuguese: prender
Latin American Spanish: sujetar
British English: clip VERB
cut If you clip something, you cut small pieces from it, especially in order to shape it.
I saw an old man out clipping his hedge.
American English: clip
Brazilian Portuguese: aparar
Chinese: 修剪
European Spanish: cortar
French: tailler
German: scheren
Italian: tagliare
Japanese: 切り取る
Korean: 잘라 내다
European Portuguese: aparar
Latin American Spanish: cortar
All related terms of 'clip'
clip on
A clip-on object is designed to be fastened to something by means of a clip.
clip art
a large collection of simple drawings stored in a computer from which items can be selected for incorporation into documents
clip-clop
the sound made by a horse's hooves
clip-fed
(of an automatic firearm ) loaded from a cartridge clip
clip-ons
sunglasses designed to be clipped on to a person's spectacles
film clip
a short extract from a film
hair clip
an item used to hold the hair up or in place
tie clip
a clip , often ornamental , which holds a tie in place against a shirt
toe clip
a metal attachment to the front upper edge of a bicycle pedal that encloses the front of the cyclist's foot. A toe clip both holds the foot in place and drags the pedal up with the foot, imparting extra effort to the machine with each rotation
wool clip
the total amount of wool shorn from a particular flock , or from flocks in a particular region or country , in one year
at a clip
If something moves or happens at a fast clip , it moves or happens quickly.
clip frame
a picture frame that is held together by clips attaching the glass to the backing
clip joint
a place, such as a nightclub or restaurant , in which customers are overcharged
cycle clip
a ring of taut metal that fits on a person's ankles to hold trouser bottoms tight and prevent them getting caught in the chain of a bicycle
movie clip
A clip from a film or a radio or television programme is a short piece of it that is broadcast separately.
paper clip
A paper clip is a small piece of bent wire that is used to fasten papers together .
roach clip
a small clip resembling tweezers , used to hold the butt of a cannabis cigarette , in order to prevent burning one's fingers
video clip
a short video , esp one produced to promote a record
bicycle clip
one of a pair of clips worn around the ankles by cyclists to keep the trousers tight and out of the chain
Bulldog Clip
A bulldog clip is a metal clip with a spring lever that opens and closes two flat pieces of metal. It is used for holding papers together.
trouser clip
a clip that is worn around the bottom of a trouser leg to stop the material getting caught in the chain of a bicycle
alligator clip
a spring-loaded fastening device having jaws with a sawlike edge that resemble those of an alligator , used as to make a temporary electrical connection
ammunition clip
a device for storing rounds of ammunition and feeding them into a weapon
cartridge clip
a metallic container holding cartridges for an automatic firearm
crocodile clip
a clasp with serrated interlocking edges used for making electrical connections
tie clasp
a decorative clasp for fastening a necktie to the shirt front
clip someone's wings
to limit someone's freedom to do what they want
tie-clip microphone
a small microphone that is clipped to a person's tie
to clip someone's wings
If you say that something or someone clips your wings , you mean that they restrict your freedom to do what you want .