EnglishMain Dictionary
clip
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun
1 [C] (often in compounds) a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together or in place:
a hair clip * toe clips on a bicycle
seealsoBICYCLECLIP, BULLDOGCLIP, PAPERCLIP
2 [C] a piece of jewellery that fastens to your clothes:
a diamond clip
3 [sing.] the act of cutting sth to make it shorter:
He gave the hedge a clip.
4 [C] a short part of a film/movie that is shown separately:
Here is a clip from her latest movie.
5 [C] (BrE, informal) a quick hit with your hand:
She gave him a clip round the ear for being cheeky.
6 [C] a set of bullets in a metal container that is placed in or attached to a gun for firing
IDIOMS
at a fast, good, steady, etc. clip (especially AmE) quickly:
Land prices will rise at a healthy clip.
verb (-pp-)
1 [+adv./prep.] to fasten sth to sth else with a clip; to be fastened with a clip:
[VN] He clipped the microphone (on) to his collar. * Clip the pages together. * [V] Do those earrings clip on?
2 [VN] ~ sth (off / from sth) to cut sth with scissors or SHEARS, in order to make it shorter or neater; to remove sth from somewhere by cutting it off:
to clip a hedge * He clipped off a length of wire.
3 [VN] to hit the edge or side of sth:
The car clipped the kerb as it turned. * She clipped the ball into the net.
4 [VN] ~ sth (out of / from sth) to cut sth out of sth else using scissors:
to clip a coupon (out of the paper)
IDIOMS
clip sb's wings to restrict a person's freedom or power:
Having a new baby to take care of has clipped her wings.
PHRASALVERBS
clip sth off sth (informal) to reduce the time that it takes to do sth by a particular length of time:
She clipped two seconds off her previous best time.
