clip

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈklip 

clipped; clipping

transitive verb

1

: encompass

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

c(1)

: excise entry 3

(2)

: to cut items out of (a publication, such as a newspaper)

2

a

: curtail, diminish

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

Synonyms

Verb (2)

• shave
• cut
• trim
• snip

Noun (2)

• blow
• swipe
• punch
• thump
• slap
• stroke
• hit
• thud
• whack
• pound
• knock
• lick
• bang
• poke
• smack
• spank
• hook
• slam
• belt
• beat
• cuff

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

Noun

Even her claw clip brought a bit of a beachy vibe to Surrey's Brookwood Cemetery, despite the fake snow. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2025

Complete with engaging animations and a superhero storyline, this 2-minute long clip has a lot to offer kids in terms of entertainment in a short window. —Annabelle Canela, Parents, 8 Aug. 2025

Verb

Some of them clip on to an existing vent or use a suction cup mount to stay in place. —Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

The dog wears a special harness that allows unfettered movement, which is clipped to a bungee line attached to the human’s running waist belt. —Ula Chrobak, Outside, 9 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing clip

• a clip round the ear
• alligator clip
• banana clip
• clip art
• clip-clop
• clip joint
• clip-on
• clip someone's wings
• ear clip
• paper clip
• roach clip

Rhymes for clip

• blip
• chip
• dip
• drip
• flip
• grip
• grippe
• hip
• ip
• kip
• lip
• nip

Kids Definition

clip

1 of 4 verb

ˈklip 

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

also : magazine sense 4a

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

ˈklip 

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