clock

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkläk 

plural clocks

often attributive

1

: a device other than a watch for indicating or measuring time commonly by means of hands moving on a dial

broadly : any periodic system by which time is measured

2

: a registering device usually with a dial

specifically : odometer

3

: time clock

4

: a synchronizing device (as in a computer) that produces pulses at regular intervals

5

: biological clock

see also a race against the clock

clock

2 of 3

verb

clocked; clocking; clocks

transitive verb

1

a

: to time with a stopwatch or by an electric timing device

b

: to be timed at

2

: to register on a mechanical recording device

wind velocities were clocked at 80 miles per hour

3

: to hit hard

4

chiefly British : attain, realize

—usually used with up

just clocked up a million … paperback sales

—Punch

5

a

: to travel (a distance) over time

clocks more than 15,000 miles a year on business

b

: put in sense 3

clocking long hours at the office

intransitive verb

1

: to have a specified duration or speed

—used with in

the movie clocked in at just under 3 hours

broadly : to have a specified measure or value

—used with in

the meal clocked in at about $15

2

: to register on a time sheet or time clock : punch

—used with in, out, on, off

he clocked in late

clocker noun

clock

3 of 3

noun (2)

: an ornamental figure on the ankle or side of a stocking or sock

Phrases

against the clock

1

: with or within a time constraint

working against the clock

2

: with clocked speed rather than the order of finish as the criterion for placement

trial races against the clock

around the clock or less commonly round the clock

1

: continuously for 24 hours : day and night without cessation

2

: without relaxation and heedless of time

kill the clock or run out the clock

: to use up as much as possible of the playing time remaining in a game (such as football) while retaining possession of the ball or puck especially to protect a lead

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• chronometer
• timekeeper
• timepiece
• timer

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bat
• belt
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• bop
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clout
• crack
• hammer
• hit
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• sock
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale
• zap

Examples of clock in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the clock reads 5:00 p.m.

Verb

He clocked 3 hours and 15 minutes in his last marathon.

His fastest pitch was clocked at 91 miles per hour.

The cop said she clocked me going 95 miles per hour.

I was so angry I wanted to clock him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And much like the slow integration of the pitch clock, until the ABS is foolproof, it won’t be promoted to the big leagues. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024

The procedure is widely mocked — even by former editor-in-chiefs who played an outsize role in promoting the practice back in the day — but the standing O clock isn’t going anywhere. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024

Nathan Flowers scored from point-blank range with 53.6 seconds on the first-half clock. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024

Cannon, 43, revealed that Clock would be going home, and underneath the antique clock appeared Ora’s guess of Thelma Nelson. —Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 16 May 2024

Picture show Atsuko Tanaka/American Museum of Natural History Flavor Flav's clock. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 14 May 2024

Witness a professional tennis match, an international airport clock or a Rolex ad today and you’re guaranteed to see that gleaming fluted bezel doing nothing more than gleam. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 11 May 2024

Between the river and the nearby historic clock tower — a replica of Big Ben — is a beach with sand, parasols and room for 800 people. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024

Anticipation hung in the air inside Paris’ La Défense Arena on Thursday night as a clock counted down to Taylor Swift‘s first European date of the Eras Tour. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 May 2024

Verb

Many doctors are also carrying the burden of medical school debt, with the average loan for physicians clocking in at around $200,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. —Beth Greenfield, Fortune Well, 23 May 2024

Both watches were made of titanium and clocked in at 47mm, the Xperience edition was DLC coated with white SuperLuminova, and is everything a tough Panerai should be. —Nora Taylor, Robb Report, 20 May 2024

In total, from when lifeguards got to her on the sand to clot removal at the hospital, the time was clocked at 72 minutes. —Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024

The Storm have passed on from the Breanna Stewart era, clocking in third on CBS Sports' power rankings (Behind the Aces and Liberty). —Rishikesh Rajagopalan, CBS News, 14 May 2024

Our tester with overpronation wore these for everyday walking but also clocked over 20,000 steps per day on a four-day trip to Paris. —Barbara Bellesi Zito, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024

The property is home to 13 on-site restaurants and spacious accommodations clocking in at more than 500 square feet. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2024

The ride itself feels long in the best way, clocking in at six minutes, more than twice as long as Peter Pan’s Flight, one of the most popular rides across Disney parks. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024

His set, usually 90 minutes, clocked in at nearly two-and-a-half hours when the lights came back on. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English clok, from Middle Dutch clocke bell, clock, from Old French or Medieval Latin; Old French dialect (Picard) cloque bell, from Medieval Latin clocca, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish clocc bell

Noun (2)

perhaps from clock entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clock

• against the clock
• alarm clock
• a race against the clock
• around the clock
• atomic clock
• banjo clock
• beat the clock
• biological clock
• body clock
• clean one's clock
• clock off/out
• clock radio
• clock up
• clock-watcher
• cuckoo clock
• eat up/run out/kill the clock
• grandfather clock
• internal clock
• kill the clock
• longcase clock
• round the clock
• run out the clock
• shot clock
• the clock
• time clock
• turn back the clock
• watch the clock
• water clock

Kids Definition

clock

1 of 2 noun

ˈkläk 

1

: a device for measuring or telling the time and especially one not meant to be worn or carried about by a person

2

: a registering device with a dial that is attached to a machine to measure or record what it is doing

3

: a device (as in a computer) that sends out signals at regular spaces of time so that other events can happen in the correct order

clock

2 of 2 verb

1

: to time (as a person or a piece of work) by a timing device

2

: to show (as time or speed) on a recording device

winds clocked at 80 mph

3

: to hit hard

Etymology

Noun

Middle English clok "clock," from early Dutch clocke "bell, clock," from early French cloque "bell" or Latin clocca "bell"; of Celtic origin — related to cloak

Medical Definition

clock

noun

ˈkläk 

: biological clock