clock

1
[ klok ]
See synonyms for: clockclockedclocking on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. an instrument for measuring and recording time, especially by mechanical means, usually with hands or changing numbers to indicate the hour and minute: not designed to be worn or carried about.

  1. a meter or other device, as a speedometer or taximeter, for measuring and recording speed, distance covered, or other quantitative functioning.

  2. Clock, Astronomy. the constellation Horologium.

  3. Computers. the circuit in a digital computer that provides a common reference train of electronic pulses for all other circuits.

verb (used with object)
  1. to time, test, or determine by means of a clock or watch: The racehorse was clocked at two minutes thirty seconds.

  2. Slang. to strike sharply or heavily: Somebody clocked him on the face.

  1. Slang. to identify (someone) as transgender or as the gender they were assigned at birth, especially when they do not wish to be so identified: She clocked me on our first date, but told me she was transgender too.

Verb Phrases
  1. clock in, to begin work, especially by punching a time clock: She clocked in at 9 a.m. on the dot.

  2. clock out, to end work, especially by punching a time clock: He clocked out early yesterday.

Idioms about clock

  1. around the clock,

    • during all 24 hours; ceaselessly.

    • without stopping for rest; tirelessly: working around the clock to stem the epidemic.

  2. clean (someone's) clock, Informal. defeat; vanquish.

  1. kill the clock, Sports. to use up as much game time as possible when one is winning, as to protect a lead in basketball, ice hockey, or football.: Also run out the clock.

  2. stop the clock, to postpone an official or legal deadline by ceasing to count the hours or minutes that elapse, such as when a new union contract must be agreed upon before an old contract runs out, or when play time in a game must be interrupted for an allowable reason.

Origin of clock

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English clok(ke), from Middle Dutch clocke “bell, clock,” or Old French cloke, cloque, from Medieval Latin clocca, perhaps of Celtic origin (compare Old Irish clocc “bell,” Old Cornish cloch ); ultimately of imitative origin; cf. cloak

Words Nearby clock

Other definitions for clock (2 of 2)

clock2
[ klok ]

noun
  1. a short embroidered or woven ornament on each side or on the outer side of a sock or stocking, extending from the ankle upward.

verb (used with object)
  1. to embroider with such an ornament.

Origin of clock

2
First recorded in 1510–20; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use clock in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clock (1 of 2)

clock1

/ (klɒk) /


noun
  1. a timepiece, usually free-standing, hanging, or built into a tower, having mechanically or electrically driven pointers that move constantly over a dial showing the numbers of the hours: Compare digital clock, watch (def. 7)

  2. any clocklike device for recording or measuring, such as a taximeter or pressure gauge

  1. the downy head of a dandelion that has gone to seed

  2. an electrical circuit that generates pulses at a predetermined rate

  3. computing an electronic pulse generator that transmits streams of regular pulses to which various parts of the computer and its operations are synchronized

  4. short for time clock

  5. around the clock or round the clock all day and all night

  6. the clock an informal word for speedometer, mileometer

  7. British a slang word for face

  8. against the clock

    • under pressure, as to meet a deadline

    • (in certain sports, such as show jumping) timed by a stop clock: the last round will be against the clock

  9. put the clock back to regress

verb
  1. (tr) British, Australian and NZ slang to strike, esp on the face or head

  2. (tr) British slang to see or notice

  1. (tr) to record time as with a stopwatch, esp in the calculation of speed

  2. electronics to feed a clock pulse to (a digital device) in order to cause it to switch to a new state

Origin of clock

1
C14: from Middle Dutch clocke clock, from Medieval Latin clocca bell, ultimately of Celtic origin

Derived forms of clock

  • clocker, noun
  • clocklike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for clock (2 of 2)

clock2

/ (klɒk) /


noun
  1. an ornamental design either woven in or embroidered on the side of a stocking

Origin of clock

2
C16: from Middle Dutch clocke, from Medieval Latin clocca bell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with clock

clock

In addition to the idioms beginning with clock

  • clock in
  • clock is ticking, the
  • clock up

also see:

  • against the clock
  • beat the clock
  • clean someone's clock
  • like clock-work
  • set back (the clock)
  • stop someone's clock
  • stop the clock

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.