Oxford Essential Dictionary
clock
noun
a thing that shows you what time it is:
an alarm clock
word building
A small clock that you wear on your wrist is called a watch. You say that a clock or watch is fast if it shows a time that is later than the real time. You say that it is slow if it shows a time that is earlier than the real time.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
clock
I. clock1 S2 W3 /klɒk $ klɑːk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: clocke 'bell, clock', from Medieval Latin clocca 'bell', from a Celtic language]
1. an instrument that shows what time it is, in a room or outside on a building:
I heard the clock strike six (=make six loud sounds).
The station clock was ten minutes slow (=showed a time ten minutes earlier than the real time).
by the hall/kitchen/church etc clock (=according to a particular clock)
What time is it by the kitchen clock? ⇨ watch the clock at watch1(8)
2. around the clock (also round the clock British English) all day and all night without stopping:
Kim has been working round the clock to finish it in time.
3. put/turn the clock back
a) (also set the clock back American English) to go back to the way things were done in the past instead of doing things in a modern way – used in order to show disapproval:
The new employment bill will put the clock back 50 years.
b) to return to a good situation that you experienced in the past or to make someone remember such a situation:
The kids are all grown up now and you can’t put the clock back.
4. put the clock(s) back/forward British English to change the time shown on the clock to one hour earlier or later, when the time officially changes
5. the clocks go back/forward British English the time changes officially to one hour earlier or later:
The clocks go back in October.
6. against the clock
a) if you work against the clock, you work as quickly as you can because you do not have much time:
Everyone is racing against the clock to get things ready in time.
b) if you run, swim etc against the clock, you run or swim a particular distance while your speed is measured
7. twenty-four hour clock a system for measuring time in which the hours of the day and night have numbers from 0 to 23
8. start/stop the clock to start or stop measuring how much time is left in a game or sport that has a time limit
9. the clock is ticking used to say that there is not much time left to do something:
The clock is ticking for those who have not yet filled in their tax form.
10. the clock
a) an instrument in a vehicle that measures how far it has travelled
on the clock
a car with 43,000 miles on the clock
b) an instrument in a vehicle that measures the speed at which it is travelling
11. run out the clock/kill the clock American English if a team runs out the clock at the end of a game, it tries to keep the ball for the rest of the game so that its opponents cannot get any points
⇨ biological clock, ↑body clock, ↑dandelion clock, ↑time clock
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ look/glance at the clock She looked at the clock. It was eight thirty.
▪ the clock says eight/nine etc (=shows a particular time) The clock said five so I went back to sleep.
▪ a clock strikes eight/nine etc (=makes eight/nine etc sounds according to the hour) In the distance I heard a church clock strike eleven.
▪ a clock ticks (=makes regular quiet sounds that shows it is working) There was no sound in the room apart from a clock ticking.
▪ a clock is fast/slow (=shows a later or earlier time than the real time) There’s no need to hurry – that clock’s fast.
▪ a clock stops (=stops working) My clock had stopped at 6 am so the alarm didn’t work.
▪ an alarm clock goes off (=rings at a particular time) What time do you want the alarm clock to go off tomorrow?
▪ set a clock (=make it say the right time) Don't forget to set your clocks to summer time.
▪ wind (up) a clock (=turn a key to keep it working) It was one of those old clocks that you have to wind up.
■ phrases
▪ the hands of/on a clock (=the long thin pieces that point at the numbers) The hands on the clock said ten past two.
▪ the face of a clock/the clock face (=the front part that you look at) I couldn’t see the clock face from where I was sitting.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + clock
▪ the kitchen/sitting-room etc clock Harry glanced at the kitchen clock and saw that he was late.
▪ an alarm clock (=that makes a noise to wake you up) He forgot to set his alarm clock.
▪ a wall clock (=that hangs on a wall) A loud ticking came from the wall clock.
▪ a grandfather clock (=an old-style tall clock that stands on the floor) Where did you get that beautiful grandfather clock?
▪ a digital clock (=that shows the time as numbers that keep changing) A digital clock at the finish line shows runners their times.
▪ a travel/travelling clock (=a small one for taking on journeys)
▪ a cuckoo clock (=a clock with a wooden bird inside that comes out every hour and makes a sound)
▪ a church clock (=one on the outside of a church tower)
▪ a carriage clock British English (=a clock inside a glass case with a handle on top)
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'the clock shows five o'clock'. Say the clock says five o'clock.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
clock
clock [clock clocks clocked clocking] noun, verb [klɒk] [klɑːk]
noun
1. countable an instrument for measuring and showing time, in a room or on the wall of a building (not worn or carried like a watch)
• It was ten past six by the kitchen clock.
• The clock struck twelve/midnight.
• The clock is fast/slow.
• The clock has stopped.
• the clock face (= the front part of a clock with the numbers on)
• The hands of the clock crept slowly around.
• Ellen heard the loud ticking of the clock in the hall.
see also alarm clock, biological clock, body clock, carriage clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, o'clock, time clock
2. the clock singular (informal) = milometer
• a used car with 20 000 miles on the clock
more at beat the clock at beat v., a race against time/the clock at race n., stop the clock at stop v., watch the clock at watch v.
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch klocke, based on medieval Latin clocca ‘bell’.
Example Bank:
• Her clock told her it was time to get up.
• His countdown clock reads forty seconds.
• I could hear a clock ticking somewhere in the house.
• I've set my alarm clock for six tomorrow.
• It's ten o'clock by the kitchen clock.
• Let's turn back the clock to the last decade.
• My alarm clock didn't go off this morning.
• Pressing the ‚Yes‘or ‚No‘response button stops the clock.
• Pressing the buzzer stops the clock.
• That clock's fast.
• The clock on the mantelpiece said twelve o'clock.
• The clock struck the hour.
• The clocks go back tonight.
• The player beat the clock and set a new record.
• This clock doesn't keep time.
• With jet lag, your biological clock is out of synch with the actual time.
• employees who are always watching the clock
• to work against the clock
Idioms: against the clock ▪ clocks go back ▪ put the clock back ▪ put the clocks back ▪ round the clock ▪ run out the clock
Derived: clock in ▪ clock out ▪ clock up something
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
clock / klɒk / / klɑːk / noun (TIME)
A1 [ C ] a device for measuring and showing time, usually found in or on a building and not worn by a person:
We have an antique clock on our mantelpiece.
The town-hall clock says (= shows that the time is) nine o'clock.
I think the kitchen clock is fast/slow (= is showing a later/earlier time than it should) .
The clock began to strike twelve.
She set her clock (= put it to the right time) by the time signal on the radio.
put / turn the clocks back UK ( US set/turn the clocks back ) to change the time on your clocks to an hour earlier, at an officially chosen time of year:
Don't forget to turn the clocks back tonight.
put / turn the clocks forward ( US also set the clocks ahead )
to change the time on your clocks to an hour later, at an officially chosen time of year
clock / klɒk / / klɑːk / noun (SPEED)
the clock [ S ] a speedometer (= a device that measures speed) :
I was only doing 30 mph on the clock.
a milometer (= a device for recording distance travelled) :
My car's only got 10,000 miles on the clock.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
clock
[klɒ̱k]
♦♦♦
clocks, clocking, clocked
1) N-COUNT A clock is an instrument, for example in a room or on the outside of a building, that shows what time of day it is.
He was conscious of a clock ticking...
He also repairs clocks and watches...
The hands of the clock on the wall moved with a slight click.
...a digital clock.
2) N-COUNT: oft n N A time clock in a factory or office is a device that is used to record the hours that people work. Each worker puts a special card into the device when they arrive and leave, and the times are recorded on the card.
Government workers were made to punch time clocks morning, noon and night.
3) N-COUNT: usu sing, the N In a car, the clock is the instrument that shows the speed of the car or the distance it has travelled. [mainly BRIT]
The car had 160,000 miles on the clock...
At 240 mph the needle went off the clock.
4) VERB To clock a particular time or speed in a race means to reach that time or speed.
[V n] Elliott clocked the fastest time this year for the 800 metres...
[V n] The yacht swayed in 40-knot winds, clocking speeds of 17 knots at times.
Syn:
reach
5) VERB: usu passive If something or someone is clocked at a particular time or speed, their time or speed is measured at that level.
[be V-ed at amount] He has been clocked at 11 seconds for 100 metres...
[be V-ed] 170-mile-an-hour winds were clocked on a mountaintop in North Carolina.
6) VERB If you clock something, you notice or see it. [BRIT, INFORMAL]
[V n] If there was any scandal in that company, you can be sure that Bobby will have clocked it.
7) → See also alarm clock, biological clock, body clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, o'clock
8) PHRASE: PHR after v, n PHR If you are doing something against the clock, you are doing it in a great hurry, because there is very little time.
The emergency services were working against the clock as the tide began to rise...
It's now become a race against the clock.
9) PHRASE: V inflects If you beat the clock, you finish doing something or succeed in doing something before the time allowed for doing it has ended.
10) PHRASE: PHR with v, PHR n If something is done round the clock or around the clock, it is done all day and all night without stopping.
Rescue services have been working round the clock to free stranded motorists...
We can't afford to give you around-the-clock protection.
11) PHRASE: V inflects If you want to turn the clock back or put the clock back, you want to return to a situation that used to exist, usually because the present situation is unpleasant.
In some ways we wish we could turn the clock back...
We cannot put back the clock.
12) PHRASE: V inflects If you are watching the clock, you keep looking to see what time it is, usually because you are bored by something and want it to end as soon as possible. [INFORMAL]
I started to watch the clock about halfway through the class.
Phrasal Verbs:
- clock in
- clock in at
- clock off
- clock on
- clock out
- clock up
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1clock /ˈklɑːk/ noun, pl clocks
1 [count] : a device that shows what time it is and that is usually placed in a room or attached to a wall
• She looked/glanced at the clock on the wall. It was now 2:30.
• the hands/face of the clock
• a digital clock
- often used before another noun
• a clock tower [=a tower with a clock on at least one of its sides]
• a clock face
- compare watch; see also alarm clock, atomic clock, biological clock, body clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock
2 the clock : a clock that is used in sports and that shows how much time remains for a particular part of a game
• They were winning by 2 points with 10 seconds (left) on the clock.
• They stopped the (game) clock with eight seconds remaining.
✦In U.S. English, to eat up the clock or run out the clock or kill the clock is to keep control of the ball or puck near the end of a game so that your opponent will not have a chance to score.
• We kept moving the ball to try to eat up the clock.
• If we can run out the clock, we can keep our lead and win.
- see also shot clock
3 the clock : time clock
• I punched the clock at 8:45 and started working right away.
4 the clock chiefly Brit informal : a device that shows how far a vehicle has traveled : odometer
• a car with 100,000 miles on the clock
against the clock
1 : in order to do or finish something before a particular time
• On our last project, we were working/racing against the clock.
• It was a race against the clock to finish the job on time.
2
✦If a race is against the clock, the time of each racer is measured and the racer with the fastest time wins.
• One by one the skiers sped downhill, racing against the clock.
around the clock also round the clock : throughout the entire day and night : every hour of the day
• Our stores are now open around the clock. [=our stores are open 24 hours a day]
• Reporters worked around the clock to cover the story.
beat the clock : to do or finish something quickly before a particular time
• In a desperate attempt to beat the clock, I raced to mail my tax return before midnight.
put/turn back the clock also put/turn the clock back : to return to a condition that existed in the past
• This new decision has effectively turned back the clock on 20 years of progress.
• I wish that we could turn back the clock and start all over again.