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¹clip

verb \ˈklip\

clippedclip·ping

Definition of CLIP

transitive verb

: encompass

a : to hold in a tight grip : clutch

b : to clasp, fasten, or secure with a clip

Origin of CLIP

Middle English clippen, from Old English clyppan; akin to Old High German klāftra fathom, Lithuanian globti to embrace

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with CLIP

blip, chip, dip, drip, flip, grip, grippe, gyp, hip, kip, lip, nip, pip, quip, rip, scrip, ship, sip, skip, slip, snip, strip, tip, trip, whip, yip, zip

²clip

noun

Definition of CLIP

: any of various devices that grip, clasp, or hook

: a device to hold cartridges for charging the magazines of some rifles; also : a magazine from which ammunition is fed into the chamber of a firearm

: a piece of jewelry held in position by a clip

First Known Use of CLIP

15th century

³clip

verb

clippedclip·ping

Definition of CLIP

transitive verb

a : to cut or cut off with or as if with shears <clip a dog's hair> <clip an hour off traveling time>

b : to cut off the distal or outer part of

c (1) : ³excise (2) : to cut items out of (as a newspaper)

a : curtail, diminish

b : to abbreviate in speech or writing

: hit, punch; especially : to strike in passing <the car skidded off the road and clipped a lamppost>

: to illegally block (an opposing player) in football

: to take money from unfairly or dishonestly especially by overcharging <the nightclub clipped the tourist for $200>

intransitive verb

: to clip something

: to travel or pass rapidly

: to clip an opposing player in football

Origin of CLIP

Middle English clippen, from Old Norse klippa

First Known Use: 13th century

⁴clip

noun

Definition of CLIP

a plural Scottish : shears

b : a 2-bladed instrument for cutting especially the nails

: something that is clipped: as

a : the product of a single shearing (as of sheep)

b : a crop of wool of a sheep, a flock, or a region

c : a section of filmed, videotaped, or recorded material

d : a clipping especially from a newspaper

: an act of clipping

: a sharp blow

: rate 4a <continues at a brisk clip>

: a single instance or occasion : time <he charged $10 a clip> —often used in the phrase at a clip <trained 1000 workers at a clip>

First Known Use of CLIP

15th century

CLIP Defined for Kids

¹clip

noun \ˈklip\

Definition of CLIP for Kids

: a device that holds or hooks

²clip

verb

clippedclip·ping

Definition of CLIP for Kids

: to fasten with a clip <Remember to clip the papers together.>

³clip

verb

clippedclip·ping

Definition of CLIP for Kids

: to shorten or remove by cutting <clip a hedge> <We clipped a leaf to examine it.>

: to cut off or trim the hair or wool of

: to cut out or off <He clipped articles from the newspaper.>

Headscratcher for CLIP

The two verbs clip look and sound alike, but have very different meanings. If you are clipping something, you might be attaching it to something else, or you might be cutting it from something else.