clock

SayKLOK/klɑk//klɒk/

Pluralclocks

Verbclocks, clocking, clocked

22 meanings of clock

Practice

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A device that shows or measures the time of day.
The clock on the wall says it's almost noon.
Grandma's old clock rings every hour.
UsageA clock is usually on a wall or table; a watch is usually on your wrist.
Similartimepiece
Note
2
noun
The time left for a game, task, or legal process, thought of as running out.
Our team passed the ball around to run down the clock and keep the lead.
We have only one week to finish the project, and the clock is ticking.
UsageOften the clock is ticking or race against the clock.
Note
3
verbcolloquialtransitive
To reach or get a certain time, score, or number, such as views, wins, or points.
My brother hopes to clock fifty wins before the season ends.
Our silly cat video clocked a million views in two days.
UsageOften clock up: clock up many miles.
Similarrecord, log, notch
Note
4
nouncountable
The system inside a living thing that controls when it sleeps, wakes, or does other things on a schedule.
After the long flight, my internal clock was so mixed up that I was hungry at midnight.
Babies need a few months before their internal clock learns the difference between day and night.
UsageUsually body clock or internal clock.
Note
5
punch-in machinenouncountable or uncountable
A machine at work that records when workers arrive and leave.
Workers punch the clock when their shift starts.
The clock at the factory broke, so everyone signed in by hand.
UsageOn the clock means at work and paid. Off the clock means on your own time.
6
timing signalnouncountable or uncountable
A steady electronic signal that keeps all parts of a computer chip working in step.
Like a drummer keeping the beat so the whole band plays together.
Every part of the chip waits for the clock before doing its next step.
If the clock runs too fast, the computer makes mistakes.
Note
7
time itverbtransitive
To measure how long something takes or how fast something goes.
We clocked the race at just under ten minutes.
Coaches clock every practice run with a stopwatch.
UsageSay clock it at ten minutes.
Similartime, measure, record
8
verbtransitivecomputing
To make a computer chip or memory work at a certain speed, or send it regular timing signals.
Some gamers clock their new chips faster than the factory setting.
The phone's processor is clocked lower to save battery.
Note

Less common meanings

9
noticeverbcolloquialtransitive
To notice someone or something, or to realize what they really are.
He clocked that I was nervous and quickly changed the subject.
Did you clock that guy's weird hat?
Similarnotice, spot, see, recognize
Oppositemiss, overlook
Note
10
hit hardverbslangtransitive
To hit someone very hard.
He clocked the bully right on the chin.
Watch out, or he'll clock you.
Similarwhack, smack, thump, slug
Note
11
one cyclenouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
One tick of a computer chip's timing signal, the smallest step in its work.
Adding two numbers takes the chip just one clock.
On this old chip, adding two numbers takes four clocks.
Similarcycle, tick
Note
12
mileage counternounBritishcountable or uncountable
The part of a car that counts how many miles it has gone.
Like a step counter, but it counts a car's miles instead of your steps.
The old van has nearly two hundred thousand miles on the clock.
Always check the clock before you buy a used car.
UsageOften miles on the clock.
Similarodometer, mileometer
Note
13
fake mileageverbslangBritishtransitive
To turn back the numbers that show how far a car has gone, to trick buyers.
Like turning back a scoreboard so a long game looks short.
The seller clocked the car so it showed only forty thousand miles.
It is against the law to clock a car before you sell it.
Note
14
beat a gameverbslangAustraliaBritishNew Zealandtransitive
To finish a video game by getting all the way to the end.
She clocked the whole game in one weekend.
He wants to clock the game before his brother does.
Similarbeat, finish, complete
Note
15
dandelion seedsnounBritishcountable or uncountable
The soft white ball of seeds that appears on a dandelion after the flower dies.
She picked the dandelion and blew the clock into the wind.
Every dandelion in the field had turned into a fluffy white clock.
16
card gamenoununcountable
A card game for one player where the cards are laid out like the face of a clock.
We played clock on the kitchen table while the rain poured outside.
Grandma taught me clock because the cards do all the work for you.
UsageSay play clock, like play chess.
Note
17
sock patternnouncountable
A small pattern sewn into a sock or stocking near the heel.
Each of his dress socks had a small clock stitched near the heel.
She chose the stockings with the pretty clocks running up the sides.
Note
18
decorate socksverbtransitive
To sew or knit a small pattern onto something, especially the side of a sock.
The shop sells dress socks clocked with a small diamond pattern.
These socks are clocked by hand with a small diamond pattern.
Similarembroider, decorate
19
nounobsoleteBritishcountable or uncountable
A watch, the small device a person carries to tell the time.
Note
20
beetlenouncountable
A big beetle, especially the black kind that feeds on animal droppings.
A shiny black clock crawled slowly across the garden path.
The children found a clock under the old log and watched it dig.
21
cluckverbdatedScotlandintransitive
To make the soft, short sounds of a hen.
The old hen clocked softly as she pecked at the corn.
Hens clock to call their chicks close.
Similarcluck
Note
22
hatchverbdatedScotlandintransitive
For a hen, to sit on her eggs and keep them warm until the chicks hatch.
Similarhatch
Note

More uses

clock into record the time you start work

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of clock apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–16, 19

It came through Middle English from a Middle Dutch word 'clocke' meaning 'bell, clock'. This goes back to a Latin word 'clocca', probably from a Celtic word for 'bell'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

The timepiece word came through Middle English from Middle Dutch clocke. en.wiktionary.org
Middle Dutch clocke meant 'bell, clock'. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from Latin clocca. en.wiktionary.org
Latin clocca probably derives from a Celtic word meaning 'bell'. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 17–18

The origin is uncertain; the designs may first have been bell-shaped, linking it to the 'bell/clock' word.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The origin of clock meaning a stocking design is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org
The designs may originally have been bell-shaped, suggesting a connection with the bell/clock word. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 21–22

It comes from Old English 'cloccian', an imitative word, like the sound in 'cluck'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

For this sense, clock derives from Old English cloccian. en.wiktionary.org
The origin is imitative, comparable to cluck. en.wiktionary.org