# clip

Pronunciation: say "KLIP" /klɪp/

## Noun

1. A short section of video taken from a film, broadcast, or other longer recording.
   - Simple: A short part of a video taken from a longer film or show.
   - _The editor pulled a clip from the documentary for the trailer._
   - _Viewers clicked on the clip to watch the goal again._
3. A device that grips or holds, used to attach one object to another.
   - Simple: A small device used to hold or attach things together.
   - _He fastened the cables with a metal clip._
   - _The binder clip held the thick stack of pages together._
5. A frame holding several rounds of ammunition, designed to be inserted into a firearm's internal magazine for rapid reloading.
   - Simple: A small metal holder that keeps bullets in a row so they load quickly.
   - _The marksman pressed a clip of five rounds into the magazine._
   - _Each clip held the cartridges in a single row._
10. A speed or rate of movement, usually understood as a fast one.
   - Simple: A speed or pace, usually a fast one.
   - _Sales grew at a healthy clip through the summer._
   - _She set off down the trail at a brisk clip._
11. A detachable magazine of a firearm, holding rounds and inserted as a single unit. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A removable holder that carries bullets and slides into a gun.
   - _The shooter ejected the empty clip and slapped in a fresh one._
   - _Each clip held fifteen rounds._
12. A short piece of audio taken from a longer recording.
   - Simple: A short piece of recorded sound taken from a longer recording.
   - _The podcast opened with a clip from an old interview._
   - _The DJ dropped a quick clip of laughter between tracks._
13. A piece cut from a newspaper, such as an article or notice.
   - Simple: A small piece cut out of a newspaper.
   - _The reporter pinned a yellowed clip to the office wall._
   - _Grandma collected every clip that mentioned the family business._
14. An act of clipping, such as a trim or haircut.
   - Simple: A quick cut or trim, such as a haircut.
   - _The poodle's monthly clip kept its coat neat._
   - _A light clip around the edges tidied the lawn._
15. A blow with the hand, especially a light one delivered to the side of the head. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A light hit with the open hand, especially on the head.
   - _She threatened a clip round the ear if they kept shouting._
   - _A sharp clip on the back of the head silenced him._
16. A piece that has been cut, trimmed, or snipped away from a larger whole.
   - Simple: A part that has been cut or trimmed off something bigger.
   - _The editor saved a clip from the manuscript for later reference._
   - _Each clip of trimmed hedge went straight into the compost bin._
24. The entire quantity of wool obtained from shearing a single sheep one time.
   - Simple: All the wool cut from one sheep in a single shearing.
   - _The farmer weighed the clip from each animal before bagging it._
   - _A heavy fleece can make for a valuable clip._
25. The entire crop of wool gathered from a flock over one shearing season.
   - Simple: All the wool a farm produces in one season.
   - _The station shipped its entire clip to market in spring._
   - _Drought reduced the season's clip by nearly a third._
30. A projecting flange on the upper edge of a horseshoe, turned up to embrace the lower part of the hoof.
   - Simple: A small raised lip on the top edge of a horseshoe that grips the hoof.
   - _The blacksmith drew a clip at the toe to hold the shoe steady._
   - _A side clip keeps the shoe from shifting on a heavy horse._

## Verb

2. To fasten or attach something in place with a clip.
   - Simple: To attach something to another thing using a small fastener.
   - _He clips the microphone to his collar before each show._
   - _Clip the wires to the board before testing the circuit._
4. To cut something, especially with scissors or shears rather than a knife.
   - Simple: To cut something using scissors or shears, not a knife.
   - _Barbers clip hair with sharp shears rather than a blade._
   - _She clipped the wilted blooms from the rose bush._
6. To cut short or reduce something; to curtail it.
   - Simple: To make something shorter or stop it before the end.
   - _Budget cuts clipped the program's funding mid-year._
   - _Editors often clip long articles to fit the page._
7. To make a clip by cutting a section of video from a film, broadcast, or longer recording.
   - Simple: To cut a short part out of a longer video.
   - _He clipped a thirty-second segment from the interview._
   - _Streamers clip funny moments and upload them instantly._
8. To hit or strike something, especially with a glancing blow in passing.
   - Simple: To hit something quickly, often while going past it.
   - _The winger clipped the defender's heel and both went down._
   - _Low branches can clip the roof of a tall truck._
9. To grip something tightly.
   - Simple: To hold something very tightly.
   - _He clipped the rope with both fists as he was pulled forward._
   - _Nervous passengers clip the armrests hard every time the plane drops._
17. In football, to make an illegal tackle by throwing the body across the back of an opponent's legs or by hitting them from behind below the waist.
   - Simple: In football, to block an opponent illegally by hitting them across or behind the legs from behind.
   - _Linemen who clip opponents risk a fifteen-yard penalty._
   - _He was ejected after clipping the cornerback during the punt return._
18. To kill someone deliberately, as by assassination or a planned hit. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To kill someone on purpose, often as a planned hit.
   - _Rival crews paid a hitman to clip their competition._
   - _They clipped him on the courthouse steps in broad daylight._
19. To take or grab something stealthily, slipping it away before anyone notices. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To grab or steal something quickly and without being noticed.
   - _Pickpockets will clip your phone the moment you're distracted._
   - _She clipped a lipstick from the display and dropped it in her bag._
20. To cheat, swindle, or fleece someone, typically by overcharging or trickery. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To cheat someone and take their money unfairly.
   - _Crooked dealers clip unwary buyers with hidden fees._
   - _The con artist clipped several retirees out of their savings._
21. In computer graphics, to move through or into a rendered object or barrier.
   - Simple: In video games, to pass through a wall or object that should be solid.
   - _Poorly tested games let avatars clip through walls and ceilings._
   - _The character clipped into the rock and the camera went black._
22. To cut off a signal at a fixed maximum level, removing any portion that exceeds it.
   - Simple: To cut off the top of a signal when it grows too strong.
   - _Overdriven amplifiers clip the waveform and add harsh distortion._
   - _The recording clipped during the loudest passage of the symphony._
23. In computer graphics, to skip rendering any part of a model or scene that is hidden from view, saving processing resources.
   - Simple: To leave out parts of a scene that are hidden, so the computer doesn't waste effort drawing them.
   - _Efficient renderers clip geometry that falls outside the camera's view._
   - _The engine clips surfaces blocked by closer objects._
26. To treat an aneurysm surgically by closing it off with a small physical clip.
   - Simple: To close off a weak, bulging blood vessel using a small metal clip.
   - _Neurosurgeons often clip a ruptured aneurysm to stop the bleeding._
   - _She clipped the aneurysm during an emergency procedure._
27. To strike someone with the hand, typically delivering a quick, light blow. *(dialectal)*
   - Simple: To hit someone quickly with your hand.
   - _His grandmother would clip him on the head whenever he swore._
   - _The coach clipped the boy's shoulder to get his attention._
28. To collect people's signatures, generally working from a clipboard. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To collect people's signatures, usually using a clipboard.
   - _Campaign workers fanned out to clip signatures before the deadline._
   - _He clipped enough names in one weekend to qualify the petition._

## Verb

29. To hold someone closely in one's arms; to hug or embrace. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To hold someone closely in your arms.
   - _The lovers would clip each other beneath the old oak._
   - _She clipped her returning sailor and wept with joy._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A close hug, holding someone tightly in the arms.
- (noun) A hooked pole used to pull a caught fish, especially a salmon, out of the water.
- (noun) The general state or appearance that something or someone is in.

## Origin

**Meanings 2–3, 5, 9–11, 28–30** — From Middle English clippen, from Old English clyppan ("to hug, embrace, cherish, clasp"), going back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "lump, clump, clamp." It is related to Old Frisian kleppa ("to hug, embrace") and Middle High German klimpfen ("to squeeze").
**Meanings 1, 4, 6–8, 12–27** — From Middle English clippen, from Old Norse klippa ("to clip, cut the hair, shear sheep"). It is related to Icelandic, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian klippa/klippe ("to clip").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/clip (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).