[ klα:k ]
■ noun
1》 a person employed in an office or bank to keep records or accounts and to undertake other routine administrative duties.
2》 an official in charge of the records of a local council or court.
↘a senior official in Parliament.
↘a lay officer of a cathedral, church, or chapel.
3》 (also desk ~ ) N. Amer. a hotel receptionist.
↘(also sales ~ ) a shop assistant.
4》 (also ~ in holy orders ) formal a member of the clergy.
5》 archaic a literate or scholarly person.
■ verb N. Amer. work as a ~.
Phrases
~ of the course an official who assists the judges in horse racing or motor racing.
~ of ( the ) works Brit. a person who oversees building work in progress.
Derivatives
~ess noun ( chiefly Scottish ).
~ish adjective
~ly adjective
~ship noun
Origin
OE cleric , clerc , from eccles. L. clericus (see cleric ); reinforced by OFr. clerc , from the same source.