/ klɪp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] (often in compounds) a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together or in place :
a hair clip
toe clips on a bicycle
—picture at clipboard
—see also bicycle clip , Bulldog clip , paper clip
2.
[ C ] a piece of jewellery that fastens to your clothes :
a diamond clip
3.
[ sing. ] the act of cutting sth to make it shorter :
He gave the hedge a clip.
4.
[ C ] a short part of a film / movie that is shown separately :
Here is a clip from her latest movie.
5.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal ) a quick hit with your hand :
She gave him a clip round the ear for being cheeky.
6.
[ C ] a set of bullets in a metal container that is placed in or attached to a gun for firing
•
IDIOMS
- at a fast, good, steady, etc. clip
■ verb ( -pp- )
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to fasten sth to sth else with a clip ; to be fastened with a clip :
[ vn ]
He clipped the microphone (on) to his collar.
Clip the pages together .
[ v ]
Do those earrings clip on?
2.
[ vn ] clip sth (off / from sth) to cut sth with scissors or shears , in order to make it shorter or neater; to remove sth from somewhere by cutting it off :
to clip a hedge
He clipped off a length of wire.
3.
[ vn ] to hit the edge or side of sth :
The car clipped the kerb as it turned.
She clipped the ball into the net.
4.
[ vn ] clip sth (out of / from sth) to cut sth out of sth else using scissors :
to clip a coupon (out of the paper)
•
IDIOMS
- clip sb's wings
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- clip sth off sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 2 and noun sense 6 verb sense 1 Old English clyppan (verb), of West Germanic origin. The noun use dates from the late 15th cent.
noun senses 3 to 5 and verb senses 2 to 4 Middle English : from Old Norse klippa , probably imitative.