clock

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /klɒk/, SAMPA: /klQk/
• (US) enPR: /kläk, IPA ^(key): /klɑk/, SAMPA: /klAk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular clock

Plural clocks

A clock

A digital clock

1. (countable) A clock is an instrument that tells you what the time is. A small clock which you carry is called a watch.

   He was sleepy, and the clock said 11:32.

   The digital clock on the wall tells her that it is almost six-thirty.

   She'd never before been in a house which did not have a clock ticking somewhere.

   1. If a clock is fast, it shows a time after the real time.

      He looked at the clock and then at his watch: The clock was nine minutes fast. He still had some time.

   2. If a clock is slow, it shows a time before the real time.
2. If something goes around the clock, it goes for 24 hours without stop.

   His family stayed at Scott's bedside around the clock.

   The museum is open around the clock from May 26 at 12:01 a.m. through May 28 at 11:59 p.m.

Related words

• alarm clock
• biological clock
• body clock

Verb

Plain form clock

Third-person singular clocks

Past tense clocked

Past participle clocked

Present participle clocking

1. (transitive) If you clock something, you measure how long it takes or how fast it moves.
   • Synonyms: time and measure

   The police clocked the car at 137 km/h.

   The drive took twenty-two minutes; he clocked it.

2. (transitive) If something clocks a time or a speed, it takes that long or moves that fast.
   • Synonyms: measure and take

   The trip clocks in at about 12 hours.

   He clocked 9.12 seconds, a new world record.

3. (intransitive) If you clock in or out at work, school, etc., you record the time they arrive or leave.

   He clocked in at four a.m. for a twelve-hour shift.

4. (intransitive) If you clock up a number of things, you reach that total after some time.
   • Synonyms: add and total

   Because I drive one hour to work, I'm clocking up a lot of miles.

5. (transitive) If you clock someone, you hit them hard in the head.
   • Synonyms: hit, punch and belt

   He might take some time to wake up. He got clocked pretty good.