English Reference

Word

clarke

Phoneticsclarke

/ˈkɫɑɹk/

Definitions

01a surname

C2

n. a common family name in English-speaking countries.

n. a frequent English surname, historically a variant of Clark, denoting a member of the clergy or a literate person.

“Arthur C. Clarke was a famous writer who predicted many modern technologies.”

“The research paper was co-authored by Professor Clarke, who has published extensively on the history of the industrial revolution.”

Formal

Usage

Always capitalized as a proper noun.

02a place name

C2

n. the name of several counties in the United States.

n. a toponymic reference to one of several administrative counties in the United States, most notably in Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia.

“The university is located in Clarke County, which is known for its music scene.”

“The local government of Clarke County recently passed a new ordinance regarding urban development and green spaces.”

American English · Formal

Usage

Typically used in the phrase 'Clarke County'.

Etymology

From Clark, from Old English clerc (“cleric, clerk”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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