clip

KLIP/klɪp/

33 meanings of clip

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A short part of a video taken from a longer film or show.
Like cutting one slice from a whole loaf of bread.
She shared a funny clip from last night's show with her friends.
The news played a short clip of the speech.
Similarsnippet, cutting, bit, piece, fragment
2
verbtransitive
To attach something to another thing using a small fastener.
Clip the papers together so they don't get lost.
She clipped the badge to her shirt.
Similarfasten, attach, pin, fix, secure
Oppositeunclip, detach, unfasten
3
nouncountable
A small device used to hold or attach things together.
Use a clip to keep the chips fresh.
The clip on her hair came loose.
Similarfastener, clamp, clasp
4
verbtransitive
To cut something using scissors or shears, not a knife.
She clipped the loose threads from the hem.
Clip the dog's nails carefully.
Similarcut, trim, snip, prune, shear
Note
5
nouncountable
A small metal holder that keeps bullets in a row so they load quickly.
Like a tray that holds bullets in a neat row, ready to load.
He loaded a fresh clip into the rifle.
The soldier kept a spare clip in his pocket.
Similarcharger
Note
6
verbtransitive
To make something shorter or stop it before the end.
They had to clip the meeting short when the fire alarm rang.
The teacher clipped her lecture to fit the period.
Similarcut, trim, reduce, curtail, shorten
Oppositelengthen, extend
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7
verbtransitive
To cut a short part out of a longer video.
She clipped the best moment from the stream to post online.
Fans clip highlights from the match and share them.
Similarcut, extract, excerpt
8
verbtransitive
To hit something quickly, often while going past it.
Drivers sometimes clip the mirror of a parked car.
The car clipped the curb as it turned.
Similarcatch, graze, nick, brush, hit
Oppositemiss
9
verbtransitive
To hold something very tightly.
She clipped the railing tightly as the boat rocked.
Clip the handle firmly with both hands.
Similargrip, clutch, grasp, clasp, grab
Oppositerelease
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10
nouncountable
A speed or pace, usually a fast one.
They walked along at a good clip to stay warm.
The train moved at quite a clip.
Similarpace, rate, speed
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11
nouncolloquialcountable
A removable holder that carries bullets and slides into a gun.
Like a battery that slides into a flashlight.
He slid a new clip into the pistol.
She always carried a spare clip.
Similarmagazine
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12
nouncountable or uncountable
A short piece of recorded sound taken from a longer recording.
He played a short clip of the song on the radio.
She sent me a voice clip explaining the plan.
Similarsnippet, bit, cutting, piece
Note
13
nouncountable or uncountable
A small piece cut out of a newspaper.
She saved a clip about her brother's award.
He kept an old clip from the local paper in his wallet.
Similarcutting, snippet, piece
14
nouncountable or uncountable
A quick cut or trim, such as a haircut.
The dog went to the groomer for a clip.
She gave the hedge a quick clip.
Similartrim, cut, haircut
15
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A light hit with the open hand, especially on the head.
He gave the boy a clip on the ear for being rude.
One more clip like that and you'll be in trouble.
Similarcuff, clout, smack, slap
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16
nouncountable or uncountable
A part that has been cut or trimmed off something bigger.
He kept a small clip of fabric to match the color later.
She put a clip from the rose bush in a glass of water.
Similarpiece, fragment, scrap, bit, snippet
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17
verbtransitive
In football, to block an opponent illegally by hitting them across or behind the legs from behind.
Like tripping someone from behind during a race when that move is not allowed.
You'll get a penalty if you clip a player from behind.
The referee threw a flag for clipping near the goal line.
Note
18
verbslangtransitive
To kill someone on purpose, often as a planned hit.
The gang wanted to clip the witness before the trial.
Someone clipped the boss in his own driveway.
Similarwhack
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19
verbslangtransitive
To grab or steal something quickly and without being noticed.
Watch your wallet, or someone might clip it in this crowd.
He clipped a candy bar from the counter and slipped out.
Similarsteal, swipe, pinch, nick, lift
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20
verbslangtransitive
To cheat someone and take their money unfairly.
Dishonest sellers will clip you if you don't check the price.
The repair shop clipped him for parts he never needed.
Similarcheat, swindle, fleece, con
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21
verbtransitive or intransitive
In video games, to pass through a wall or object that should be solid.
Sometimes characters clip through the floor and fall out of the level.
My player clipped into the wall and got stuck there.
Note
22
verbtransitive or intransitive
To cut off the top of a signal when it grows too strong.
Like a cup that is too full: any extra water above the top just spills away and is lost.
Turn the volume down, or the speakers will clip the sound.
The microphone clipped when the singer shouted into it.
Note
23
verbtransitive
To leave out parts of a scene that are hidden, so the computer doesn't waste effort drawing them.
Game engines clip anything the player can't actually see.
The software clipped the hidden objects to run faster.
Note
24
nouncountable or uncountable
All the wool cut from one sheep in a single shearing.
Like all the hair gathered up from one haircut.
The clip from that ram filled an entire sack.
A single clip weighs only a few pounds.
Similarfleece
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25
nouncountable or uncountable
All the wool a farm produces in one season.
Like a farmer's whole harvest of wheat for the year.
This year's clip sold for a good price.
Bad weather cut the whole clip in half.
26
verbtransitive
To close off a weak, bulging blood vessel using a small metal clip.
Like pinching a bulging balloon shut so it can't pop.
Doctors decided to clip the aneurysm right away.
The surgeon clipped the swollen vessel before it burst.
Note
27
verbdialectaltransitive
To hit someone quickly with your hand.
Stop that, or I'll clip you on the ear.
She clipped him lightly on the arm for teasing her.
Similarcuff, smack, slap, swat
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28
verbslangtransitive
To collect people's signatures, usually using a clipboard.
Volunteers went out to clip signatures for the new park.
She clipped names all afternoon outside the store.
Similarcollect, gather
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29
verbarchaic
To hold someone closely in your arms.
Like wrapping your arms all the way around someone you love.
She ran to clip her child in a warm hug.
He clipped his old friend tightly at the gate.
Note
30
nouncountable
A small raised lip on the top edge of a horseshoe that grips the hoof.
Like a small tab that keeps a part from sliding out of place.
The farrier shaped a clip on the front of the shoe.
A worn clip lets the shoe slip on the hoof.
Note
31
nounobsolete
A tight hug.
32
noundialectalScotlandUK
A hook on a pole for lifting a caught fish out of the water.
33
noundialectalGeordie
The general state that someone or something is in.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 2–3, 5, 9–11, 28–30

From Old English clyppan, meaning to hug or embrace.

Meanings 1, 4, 6–8, 12–27

From Old Norse klippa, meaning to clip, cut the hair, or shear sheep.