clip
pronunciation
How to pronounce clip in British English:
UK [klɪp]
How to pronounce clip in American English:
US [klɪp]
-
- Noun:
- a metal frame or container holding cartridges; can be inserted into an automatic gun
- an instance or single occasion for some event
- any of various small fasteners used to hold loose articles together
- an article of jewelry that can be clipped onto a hat or dress
- the act of clipping or snipping
- a sharp slanting blow
-
- Verb:
- sever or remove by pinching or snipping
- run at a moderately swift pace
- attach with a clip
- cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
- terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end or its full extent
Word Origin
- clip (v.1)
- "to cut or sever with a sharp instrument," c. 1200, from a Scandinavian source (compare Old Norse klippa, Swedish klippa, Danish klippe "clip, shear, cut") probably echoic. Related: Clipped; clipping. Meaning "to pronounce short" is from 1520s. The verb has a long association with shady activities, originally especially in reference to cutting or shaving metal from coins (c. 1400), but later extended to swindles from the sense "to shear sheep," hence clip-joint "place that overcharges outrageously" (1933, American English, a term from Prohibition). To clip (someone's) wings figuratively (1590s) is from the method of preventing a captive bird from flying.
- clip (v.2)
- "fasten, hold together by pressure," also (mostly archaic) "to embrace," from Old English clyppan "to embrace, clasp; surround; prize, honor, cherish;" related to Old Frisian kleppa "to embrace, love," Old High German klaftra, German klafter "fathom" (on notion of outstretched arms). Also compare Lithuanian glebys "armful," globiu "to embrace, support." Meaning "to fasten, bind" is early 14c. Meaning "to fasten with clips" is from 1902. Related: Clipped; clipping. Original sense of the verb is preserved in U.S. football clipping penalty.
- clip (n.1)
- "something for attaching or holding," mid-14c., probably from clip (v.2). Meaning "receptacle containing several cartridges for a repeating firearm" is from 1901. Meaning "piece of jewelry fastened by a clip" is from 1937. This is also the source of paper clip (1854). Old English had clypp "an embrace."
- clip (n.2)
- mid-15c., "shears," from clip (v.1). Meaning "act of clipping" is from 1825, originally of sheep-shearing, later of haircuts. Meaning "rate of speed" is 1867 (compare clipper). Meaning "an extract from a movie" is from 1958.
Example
- 1. The clip apparently uses their recent hootenanny gigs as a jumping off point .
- 2. For those who think small is better , the video clip library of bigthink.com delivers .
- 3. Use a clip to make a spiral and solder it to the cover .
- 4. The case includes a small compartment for cuff links and a tie clip .
- 5. Lisa stumbled across a movie clip in which the male star looked like jason .