clip

UK: /ˈklɪp/ US: /klɪp/ ,(klip)

Inflections of 'clip' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

clips

v 3rd person singular

clipping

v pres p

clipped

v past

clipped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

clip¹ /klɪp/   v., clipped, clipped or clipt/klɪpt/  clip•ping, n. 
v. 

1. [~ + object] to cut off or out, as with scissors;
   to trim or give shape to something: to clip a rose from a bush;
   to clip a hedge.
2. [~ + object] to cut short;
   curtail:
   We clipped our visit by a week.
3. [~ + object] Informal. to hit with a quick, sharp blow:
   He clipped me on the jaw.
4. [no object] to move swiftly:
   The motorcycle clipped along the highway.

n. [countable]

5. the act of clipping;
   something clipped off.
6. Cinema film clip.
7. Informal Terms Informal. clipping (def. 2).
8. Informal Terms Informal. a quick, sharp blow:
   a clip to the jaw.
9. [usually: singular] rate;
   pace:
   moving at a rapid clip.

clip² /klɪp/   n., v., clipped, clip•ping. 
n. [countable]

1. a device that grips tightly, esp. a clasp for holding together papers, etc.
2. a frame holding cartridges to be put into the magazine of a gun:
   an ammunition clip.
3. Jewelry an article of jewelry clipped onto clothing, etc.:
   She wore a diamond clip on her blouse.

v. 

4. to fasten with or as if with a clip: [~ + on]
   This earring clips on to the ear.
   [~ + object]
   The secretary clipped the reports together.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

clip¹  (klip), v., clipped, clipped or clipt, clip•ping, n. 
v.t. 

1. to cut, or cut off or out, as with shears:
   to clip a rose from a bush.
2. to trim by cutting:
   to clip a hedge.
3. to cut or trim the hair or fleece of;
   shear:
   to clip a poodle.
4. to pare the edge of (a coin). Cf. sweat (def. 22).
5. to cut short;
   curtail:
   We clipped our visit by a week to return home earlier.
6. to pronounce rapidly, with precise articulation and with omission of certain sounds, as of unstressed vowels:
   an annoying habit of clipping his words.
7. Oceanography, Linguistics to shorten (a word or phrase) by dropping one or more syllables.
8. [Informal.] to hit with a quick, sharp blow:
   He clipped him on the jaw with a sudden punch.
9. Slang Terms to take or get money from by dishonest means;
   swindle;
   rook.

v.i. 

10. to clip or cut something.
11. to cut articles or pictures from a newspaper, magazine, etc.
12. to move swiftly:
    He clipped along the highway on his motorcycle.
13. [Archaic.] to fly rapidly.

n. 

14. the act of clipping.
15. anything clipped off, esp. the wool shorn at a single shearing of sheep.
16. the amount of wool shorn in one season.
17. clips, (used with a pl. v.) an instrument for clipping;
    shears.
18. Cinema See film clip. 
19. Informal Terms clipping (def. 2).
20. Informal Terms a quick, sharp blow:
    a clip on the jaw.
21. rate;
    pace:
    at a rapid clip.

• Old Norse klippa to clip, cut
• Middle English clippen 1150–1200

clip′pa•ble, adj. 

clip²  (klip), n., v., clipped, clip•ping. 
n. 

1. a device that grips and holds tightly.
2. a metal or plastic clasp for holding together papers, letters, etc.
3. See cartridge clip. 
4. Jewelry an article of jewelry or other decoration clipped onto clothing, shoes, hats, etc.
5. a flange on the upper surface of a horseshoe.
6. Nautical, Naval Terms Also called lug. [Shipbuilding.] a short length of angle iron connecting and maintaining the angle between two members or surfaces.
7. [Archaic.] an embrace.

v.t., v.i. 

8. to grip tightly;
   fasten with or as if with a clip.
9. to encircle;
   encompass.
10. Sport [Football.] to block by illegally throwing the body across a player's legs from behind.
11. [Archaic.] to embrace or hug.

• bef. 900; Middle English clippen, Old English clyppan to embrace, surround; cognate with Old Frisian kleppa

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

clip / klɪp/ verb (clips, clipping, clipped)(mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to cut, snip, or trim with or as if with scissors or shears, esp in order to shorten or remove a part
2. to punch (a hole) in something, esp a ticket
3. to curtail or cut short
4. to move a short section from (a film, etc)
5. to shorten (a word)
6. to strike with a sharp, often slanting, blow
7. to obtain (money) by deception or cheating
8. to murder; execute

noun

1. the act or process of clipping
2. something clipped off
3. a sharp, often slanting, blow
4. speed: a rapid clip
5. the total quantity of wool shorn, as in one place, season, etc
6. another word for clipped form

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old Norse klippa to cut; related to Low German klippen

clip / klɪp/ noun

1. any of various small implements used to hold loose articles together or to attach one article to another
2. short for paperclip, cartridge clip

verb (clips, clipping, clipped)(transitive)

1. to hold together tightly, as with a clip

Etymology: Old English clyppan to embrace; related to Old Frisian kleppa, Lithuanian glebiu