clock
1an 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.
a meter or other device, as a speedometer or taximeter, for measuring and recording speed, distance covered, or other quantitative functioning.
Clock, Astronomy. the constellation Horologium.
Computers. the circuit in a digital computer that provides a common reference train of electronic pulses for all other circuits.
to time, test, or determine by means of a clock or watch: The racehorse was clocked at two minutes thirty seconds.
Slang. to strike sharply or heavily: Somebody clocked him on the face.
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.
clock in, to begin work, especially by punching a time clock: She clocked in at 9 a.m. on the dot.
clock out, to end work, especially by punching a time clock: He clocked out early yesterday.
Idioms about clock
around the clock,
during all 24 hours; ceaselessly.
without stopping for rest; tirelessly: working around the clock to stem the epidemic.
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.
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
1Other definitions for clock (2 of 2)
a short embroidered or woven ornament on each side or on the outer side of a sock or stocking, extending from the ankle upward.
to embroider with such an ornament.
Origin of clock
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for clock (1 of 2)
/ (klɒk) /
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)
any clocklike device for recording or measuring, such as a taximeter or pressure gauge
the downy head of a dandelion that has gone to seed
an electrical circuit that generates pulses at a predetermined rate
computing an electronic pulse generator that transmits streams of regular pulses to which various parts of the computer and its operations are synchronized
short for time clock
around the clock or round the clock all day and all night
the clock an informal word for speedometer, mileometer
British a slang word for face
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
put the clock back to regress
(tr) British, Australian and NZ slang to strike, esp on the face or head
(tr) British slang to see or notice
(tr) to record time as with a stopwatch, esp in the calculation of speed
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- See also atomic clock, biological clock, clock off, clock on, clock up
Derived forms of clock
- clocker, noun
- clocklike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for clock (2 of 2)
/ (klɒk) /
an ornamental design either woven in or embroidered on the side of a stocking
Origin of clock
2Collins 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
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.
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