Clock

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /klÉ’k/
• Rhymes: -É’k
• US enPR: kläk, IPA: /klÉ‘k/

c. 1350–1400, Middle English clok, clokke, from Middle Dutch klocke ("bell, clock"), from Old Northern French cloque ("bell"), from Medieval Latin clocca, probably of Celtic origin, from Proto-Celtic *klokkos ("bell") (compare Welsh cloch, Irish clog), from Proto-Indo-European *klēg-, *klōg-. Related to Old English clucge, Low German Klock ("bell, clock"), German Glocke, Swedish klocka. More at laugh.

Alternative forms

• CLK contraction used in electronics

Full definition of clock

Noun

1. An instrument used to measure or keep track of time; a non-portable timepiece.
2. (British) The odometer of a motor vehicle.This car has over 300,000 miles on the clock.
3. (electronics) An electrical signal that synchronizes timing among digital circuits of semiconductor chips or modules.
4. The seed head of a dandelion.
5. A timeclock.I can't go off to lunch yet, I'm still on the clock.We let the guys use the shop's tools and equipment for their own projects as long as they're off the clock.

Synonyms

• (instrument used to measure or keep track of time) timepiece
• (odometer of a motor vehicle) odometer

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To measure the duration of.
2. (transitive) To measure the speed of.He was clocked at 155 miles per hour.
3. (transitive, slang) To hit (someone)When the boxer let down his guard, his opponent clocked him.
4. (slang) To take notice of; to realise.Clock the wheels on that car!He finally clocked that there were no more cornflakes.
• 2006, Lily Allen, Knock 'Em OutCut to the pub on a lads night out,Man at the bar cos it was his shout,Clocks this bird and she looks OK,Caught him looking and she walks his way,
5. (British, slang) To falsify the reading of the odometer of a vehicle.I don't believe that car has done only 40,000 miles. It's been clocked.
6. (transitive, New Zealand, slang) To beat a video game.Have you clocked that game yet?

Synonyms

• (measure the duration of) time
• (measure the speed of)
• (slang: hit (someone)) slug, smack, thump, whack
• (slang: take notice of) check out, scope out
• (slang: falsify the reading of the odometer of a vehicle) turn back (the vehicle's) clock, wind back (the vehicle's) clock

Derived terms

• clock in
• clock on
• clock off
• clock out to use a timeclock indicating one has finished a work shift
• clock up

Origin uncertain; designs may have originally been bell-shaped and thus related to Etymology 1, above.

Noun

1. A pattern near the heel of a sock or stocking.
• W.S. Gilbert, When you're lying awake, But this you can't stand, so you throw up your hand,
  and you find you're as cold as an icicle,
  In your shirt and your socks (the black silk with gold clocks),
  crossing Salisbury Plain on a bicycle
• William Barnes, Grammer's Shoes, She'd a gown wi' girt flowers lik' hollyhocks
  An zome stockèns o' gramfer's a-knit wi' clocks
• Sheila McGregor, Traditional Scandinavian Knitting, Most decoration involved the ankle clocks, and several are shown on p.15 in the form of charts.
• J. Munslow, Kathryn McKelvey, Fashion Source Book, Clocks: These are ornamental designs embroidered or woven on to the ankles of stockings.

Verb

1. (transitive) To ornament (e.g. the side of a stocking) with figured work.

Noun

1. A large beetle, especially the European dung beetle (Scarabaeus stercorarius).

Verb

1. (intransitive, dated) To make the sound of a hen; to cluck.