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

Verb (2) a mother who's sad to see her little boy's curls clipped for the first time the pitch clipped the batter's helmet with enough force to knock it clean off his head Noun (2) an unexpectedly low branch dealt him a clip to the head
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Here is a look at the clip of Nickal’s comments: Cormier took to his YouTube channel to offer a response. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024 In the clip, which played along to audio from The Kardashians of Kim Kardashian talking about her sister Kourtney Kardashian copying her, Lizzo posed and modeled two extra-long pigtails while wearing a white off-the-shoulder dress, sparkly silver eyeshadow and pink blush. Escher Walcott, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Verb
American Airlines Flight 109 clipped the tip of a wing on a Frontier Airlines plane at Terminal E, airline officials reported. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024 Two planes operated by American Airlines and Frontier Airlines clipped wings at Logan International Airport in Boston Monday. Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clip 

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 8 Dec. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on clip

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!