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clock¹

(klŏk)

1. An instrument other than a watch for measuring or indicating time, especially a mechanical or electronic device having a numbered dial and moving hands or a digital display.

2. A time clock.

3. A source of regularly occurring pulses used to measure the passage of time, as in a computer.

4. Any of various devices that indicate measurement, such as a speedometer or a taximeter.

5. A biological clock.

6. The downy flower head of a dandelion that has gone to seed.

v. clocked, clock·ing, clocks

v.tr.

1. To time, as with a stopwatch: clock a runner.

2. To register or record with a mechanical device: clocked the winds at 60 miles per hour.

3. Informal To strike or hit (someone) forcefully, especially in the face.

v.intr.

1. To record working hours with a time clock: clocks in at 8:00 and out at 4:00.

2. To be measured or registered, especially at a certain speed or rate. Often used with in: a fastball that clocks in at 95 miles per hour.

Phrasal Verb:

clock up Chiefly British Slang

To accumulate; rack up: clocked up a number of wins.

Idioms:

around/round the clock

Throughout the entire 24 hours of the day; continuously.

clean (someone's) clock Slang

To beat or defeat decisively: "Immense linemen declared their intentions to clean the clocks of opposing players" (Russell Baker).

kill/run down/run out the clock

Sports To preserve a lead by maintaining possession of the ball or puck until playing time expires.

[Middle English clokke, from Old North French cloque, bell, or from Middle Dutch clocke, bell, clock, both from Medieval Latin clocca, of imitative origin.]

clocker n.

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clock1

clock²

(klŏk)

An embroidered or woven decoration on the side of a stocking or sock.

[Perhaps from CLOCK¹, bell (obsolete), from its original bell-shaped appearance.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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