clip

B1 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /klɪp/ See IPA manual

Freq #6246

Meanings

1

noun
A small device used to hold things together or in place.

Use this clip to keep the papers together.
2

verb
To fasten or attach something with a clip.

Please clip the photo to the top of the page.
3

verb
To cut something with scissors or shears, especially to make it shorter or neater.

He clipped the hedge into a neat shape.
4

verb
To cut off a small piece of something.

I clipped the loose thread from my shirt.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to cut something with... cropcut backprune snip trim

4 verb · to cut off a small piece of... nip nip off snip snip off

Word family

Forms clippedclippingclipsclipt

Derived forms beclipclip-jointclipbookclipcockclipjointclipmappingclippableclippieclippockclipsheetclipsomemicroclip

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

roach clip
a small gripping tool used to hold the end of a cannabis cigarette

Noun + noun
alligator clip
a small spring-loaded fastener with metal jaws that grip an object

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English clippen, cleppen, clüppen, from Old English clyppan (“to hug, embrace, cherish, clasp”), from Proto-Germanic *klumpijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glemb-, *glembʰ- (“lump, clump, clod, clamp”). Cognate with Old Frisian kleppa, klippa (“to hug, embrace”), Middle High German klimpen, klimpfen (“to contract tightly, constrict, squeeze”).

clippen Middle English clyppan Old English *klumpijaną Proto-Germanic *glemb- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# clip

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /klɪp/
**Frequency rank:** 6246

## Meanings
1. A small device used to hold things together or in place.
2. To fasten or attach something with a clip.
3. To cut something with scissors or shears, especially to make it shorter or neater.
4. To cut off a small piece of something.

## Examples
- Use this clip to keep the papers together.
- Please clip the photo to the top of the page.
- He clipped the hedge into a neat shape.
- I clipped the loose thread from my shirt.

## Derived Forms
- beclip
- clip-joint
- clipbook
- clipcock
- clipjoint
- clipmapping
- clippable
- clippie
- clippock
- clipsheet
- clipsome
- microclip

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: clippen
- Root: clyppan
- Root: *klumpijaną
- Root: *glemb-

## Etymology
From Middle English clippen, cleppen, clüppen, from Old English clyppan (“to hug, embrace, cherish, clasp”), from Proto-Germanic *klumpijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glemb-, *glembʰ- (“lump, clump, clod, clamp”). Cognate with Old Frisian kleppa, klippa (“to hug, embrace”), Middle High German klimpen, klimpfen (“to contract tightly, constrict, squeeze”).

## AI Etymology
clip is a noun and verb. It is from Middle English clippen, cleppen, clüppen, from Old English clyppan (“to hug, embrace, cherish, clasp”), from Proto-Germanic *klumpijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glemb-, *glembʰ- (“lump, clump, clod, clamp”). Cognate with Old Frisian kleppa, klippa (“to hug, embrace”), Middle High German klimpen, klimpfen (“to contract tightly, constrict, squeeze”). Historical forms in the chain include clippen (Middle English), clyppan (Old English), *klumpijaną (Proto-Germanic), and *glemb- (Proto-Indo-European). Current senses include a small device used to hold things together or in place, to fasten or attach something with a clip, and to cut something with scissors or shears, especially to make it shorter or neater. Derived forms include beclip, clip-joint, clipbook, clipcock, and clipjoint.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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