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.
time clock.
a meter or other device, as a speedometer or taximeter, for measuring and recording speed, distance covered, or other quantitative functioning.
biological clock.
(initial capital letter)Astronomy. the constellation Horologium.
Computers. the circuit in a digital computer that provides a common reference train of electronic pulses for all other circuits.
verb (used with object)
to time, test, or determine by means of a clock or watch: The racehorse was clocked at two minutes thirty seconds.
Slang. to strike sharply or heavily: Somebody clocked him on the face.
Verb Phrases
clock in,to begin work, especially by punching a time clock: She clocked in at 9 on the dot.
clock out,to end work, especially by punching a time clock: He clocked out early yesterday.
Idioms for clock
around the clock,
during all 24 hours; ceaselessly.
without stopping for rest; tirelessly: working around the clock to stem the epidemic.
clean (someone's) clock, to defeat; vanquish.
kill the clock, Sports. 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.
stop the clock, to postpone an official or legal deadline by ceasing to count the hours that elapse, as when a new union contract must be agreed upon before an old contract runs out.
Origin of clock
1
1350–1400; Middle English clok(ke) <Middle Dutch clocke bell, clock; akin to Old English clucge,Old High German glocka (German Glocke), Old Irish clocc bell; cf. cloak
Words nearby clock
cloam, clobber, clobbering machine, clochard, cloche, clock, clocker, clock golf, clock-hour, clock in, clock jack
Definition for clock (2 of 2)
clock2
[ klok ]
/ klɒk /
noun
a short embroidered or woven ornament on each side or on the outer side of a sock or stocking, extending from the ankle upward.
So the merchants of bad, as we call them, are just going at us around the clock trying to sell us their wares.
Reasons to Be Cheerful (Ep. 417)|Stephen J. Dubner|May 7, 2020|Freakonomics
The wine cellar—one of the best in the world—survived World War II and is guarded around the clock.
Inside The World’s 10 Oldest Restaurants|Justin Jones|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They thrive on packed schedules, they say, and take pleasure in working around the clock.
How the Property Brothers Became Your Mom’s Favorite TV Stars|Kevin Fallon|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bill Haley had kicked rock off with “Rock Around the Clock,” but Elvis Presley made it an international phenomenon.
How Rock and Roll Killed Jim Crow|Dennis McNally|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She had been there as my mother and I sat with him around the clock, sleeping by his bedside, anxiously checking his vitals.
Those Kansas City Blues: A Family History|Katie Baker|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I saw many signs of hope,” he said, praising health care workers working around the clock to contain the disease.
CDC: 'Window Is Closing' on Containing Ebola|Abby Haglage|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And then—well, I happen to forget what sort of a day this particular day turned into, about six of the clock.
Library of the World's Best literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 12|Various
Then the Court adjourned till to morrow morning Eight of the Clock.
Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period|Various
Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.
Daddy's Girl|L. T. Meade
“That foolish fellow is going to be late,” he muttered, glancing over his paper at the clock on the chimney-piece.
Post Haste|R.M. Ballantyne
A clock in a village church tower struck three, and the midafternoon traffic thickened and converged upon the bridge.
Detectives, Inc.|William Heyliger
British Dictionary definitions for clock (1 of 2)
clock1
/ (klɒk) /
noun
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 hoursCompare digital clock, watch (def. 7)
any clocklike device for recording or measuring, such as a taximeter or pressure gauge
the downy head of a dandelion that has gone to seed
an electrical circuit that generates pulses at a predetermined rate
computingan electronic pulse generator that transmits streams of regular pulses to which various parts of the computer and its operations are synchronized
short for time clock
around the clockorround the clockall day and all night
the clock an informal word for speedometer, mileometer
British a slang word for face
against the clock
under pressure, as to meet a deadline
(in certain sports, such as show jumping) timed by a stop clockthe last round will be against the clock
put the clock backto regress
verb
(tr)British, Australian and NZslangto strike, esp on the face or head
(tr)Britishslangto see or notice
(tr)to record time as with a stopwatch, esp in the calculation of speed
electronicsto feed a clock pulse to (a digital device) in order to cause it to switch to a new state
See also atomic clock, biological clock, clock off, clock on, clock up
Derived forms of clock
clocker, nounclocklike, adjective
Word Origin for clock
C14: from Middle Dutch clocke clock, from Medieval Latin clocca bell, ultimately of Celtic origin
British Dictionary definitions for clock (2 of 2)
clock2
/ (klɒk) /
noun
an ornamental design either woven in or embroidered on the side of a stocking
Word Origin for clock
C16: from Middle Dutch clocke, from Medieval Latin clocca bell