/ klɑːk; NAmE klɜːrk/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a person whose job is to keep the records or accounts in an office, shop / store etc. :
an office clerk
—see also filing clerk
2.
an official in charge of the records of a council, court, etc. :
the Town Clerk
the Clerk of the Court
—see also county clerk , parish clerk , clerk of works
3.
(also ˈsales clerk ) (both NAmE ) = shop assistant :
The clerk at the counter gave me too little change.
4.
(also ˈdesk clerk ) (both NAmE ) a person whose job is dealing with people arriving at or leaving a hotel
SYN receptionist
■ verb
[ v ] ( NAmE ) to work as a clerk :
a clerking job
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English cleric , clerc (in the sense ordained minister, literate person ), from ecclesiastical Latin clericus clergyman, from Greek klērikos belonging to the Christian clergy, from klēros lot, heritage (Acts 1:26); reinforced by Old French clerc , from the same source. Sense 1 dates from the early 16th cent.