clip

1 of 4

verb (1)

clipped; clipping

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to hold in a tight grip : clutch
b
: to clasp, fasten, or secure with a clip

clip

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: any of various devices that grip, clasp, or hook
2
: 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
3
: something (such as a piece of jewelry) that is worn as an ornament or fastener and that is held in position by a clip

clip

3 of 4

verb (2)

clipped; clipping

transitive verb

1
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
(2)
: to cut items out of (a publication, such as a newspaper)
2
b
: to abbreviate in speech or writing
3
: hit, punch
especially : to strike in passing
the car skidded off the road and clipped a lamppost
4
: to illegally block (an opposing player) in football
5
: to take money from unfairly or dishonestly especially by overcharging
the nightclub clipped the tourist for $200

intransitive verb

1
: to clip something
2
: to travel or pass rapidly
3
: to clip an opposing player in football

clip

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
a
clips plural, Scotland : shears
b
: a 2-bladed instrument for cutting especially the nails
2
: something that is clipped: such 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
3
: an act of clipping
4
: a sharp blow
5
: rate sense 1a
continues at a brisk clip
6
: 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

Examples of clip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
However, Kimmel did, in fact, make that the headline of the YouTube clip. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 At the center of the clip, though, is a celebration of Osbourne, who sang the tune in his home’s movie theater with footage of him through the years playing behind him. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 The one-minute clip features a glimpse of the returning and new characters, including Wednesday star Jenna Ortega taking on the role of Astrid, the daughter of the iconic Lydia Deetz played by Winona Ryder, who is reprising her role. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 The video raised red flags among fans, but TMZ, which shared a video of the same stroll, reported that the clip was taken on Saturday, and not anytime prior. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 However, conspiracy theories about the clip circulated online. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 The clip then cut to a trailer for a new episode of EM, a spoof of ER starring Eminem. EW.com, 20 Mar. 2024 When an error is made, it doesn’t get forgotten: clips of it circulate widely on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook; replays are studied like the Zapruder film. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024 Kelce commented on an Instagram clip of the interview. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
The band members were eight of 10 people who died when the jet's wing clipped a rock and crashed into a mountain near the United States–Mexico border. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 Early in his career, his ambition helped clip the puppet strings of his boy band image and establish him as a serious and legitimate solo artist. Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 The thing that something must be done about is clipping the wings of the Beijing regime. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Already living a frugal life on her Social Security income, the 71-year-old started clipping more grocery coupons and buying frozen Lean Cuisine meals on sale — five for $10. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Duncan said firefighter Matt Myers was treated for an injury when a piece of debris came through the windshield and glass clipped him on the side of the face. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 Similar to our outdoor plant friends, indoor plants also go dormant in the winter months and do best when clipped during active growth cycles. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 When my older sister, a mom of two little ones under the age of four, saw this small gem clipped onto my weekender bag, she was mesmerized. Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2024 Patient after patient at the East Oakland clinic extended their fingers so that healthcare workers could clip on a pulse oximeter, a device that measures the degree to which red blood cells are saturated with oxygen. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

Middle English clippen, from Old Norse klippa

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of clip was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near clip

Cite this Entry

“Clip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clip. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clip

1 of 4 verb
clipped; clipping
: to fasten with a clip
clip the papers together

clip

2 of 4 noun
1
: a device that grips, clasps, or hooks
2
: a device for loading cartridges into a firearm
3
: a piece of jewelry held by a clip

clip

3 of 4 verb
clipped; clipping
1
: to cut or cut off with or as if with shears
clip a hedge
clip out a news item
2
: to cut off or trim the hair or wool of
have the dog clipped

clip

4 of 4 noun
1
: a two-bladed instrument for cutting especially the nails
2
: a section of filmed, videotaped, or recorded material
3
: an act of clipping
4
: a sharp blow
5
: a rapid pace
move along at a good clip
Etymology

Verb

Old English clyppan "to clasp"

Verb

Middle English clippen "to cut," of Norse origin

Medical Definition

clip

noun
: a device used to arrest bleeding from vessels or tissues during operations

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