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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In a new clip posted on the social media platform, the Grandfathered star gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Olsen twins. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 30 May 2023 The post includes a shot of Blue Ivy on stage and two short video clips in slow motion of Blue Ivy hitting her choreography. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 30 May 2023 Lana Del Rey began a brief hunt for a missing vape mid-set over the weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the whole ordeal has gone viral in a new hilarious clip. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 29 May 2023 Recalled vehicles: 2921-2023 Ford Bronco Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30; Dealers will add a sliding clip latch stop to the driver and front passenger seat belts, free of charge. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 29 May 2023 For fans of the reclusive R&B artist Frank Ocean, the short audio clips posted to group chat service Discord in early April were tantalizing. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 27 May 2023 Later clips showed that police had retreated from the area while demonstrators staged a sit-in outside the gate that continued through the night. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 27 May 2023 These kinds of bits have the potential to help the young voting demographic watching these clips engage with the election and vote. Sophia A. Mcclennen, The Conversation, 26 May 2023 In a clip shared by Spotify, the pop star gushed about her latest collaborator and explained how the team-up — which dropped at midnight Friday (May 26) — came to be. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 26 May 2023
Verb
Don't forget to clip the on-site coupon to score extra savings. Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2023 Find a nail clipping in your soup, the restaurant gives you a nectarine. Sanibel Chai, ELLE, 25 May 2023 In mid-March 2023, a Russian fighter performing a close pass near a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper accidentally clipped the drone’s propeller. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 4 May 2023 The officer recognizes the threat and begins to run back toward the patrol car when the BMW M3 careens into the sedan and appears to clip the officer in the leg. USA TODAY, 3 May 2023 Red Sox 5, Brewers 3 First, Kiké Hernández drew a full-count walk on a pitch that appeared to clip the inside corner of the strike zone. Journal Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2023 After applying mousse, Garner followed Witherspoon's instructions to curl hair strands into the heated rollers and clip them down before hopping in the car for her kids' school pick-up. Kayla Blanton, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2023 The warplane clipped the drone’s propeller in international airspace, leading to its crash in the Black Sea. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 16 Mar. 2023 Tom was on his way home after a late night at work when someone driving a truck clipped him near the Ford Theatre. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2023 See More

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 6 Jun. 2023.

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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