# clipper

/ˈkɫɪpɝ/ (US) · /klˈɪpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clipper
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. cutting tool

noun · CEFR B1

a tool used for cutting hair, fingernails, or hedges.

For teachers: a mechanical or electrical device designed for clipping or trimming, typically used for grooming or gardening.

- The barber used electric clippers to give him a very short haircut.
- After the dog's bath, the groomer used specialized clippers to trim the thick fur around its paws.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'clippers' when referring to a single tool.

### 2. sailing ship

noun · CEFR B2 · Archaic

a very fast sailing ship with many masts, popular in the 1800s.

For teachers: a fast, multi-masted sailing vessel of the mid-19th century, designed for speed and long-distance trade.

- The tea clipper raced across the ocean to deliver its cargo first.
- The Cutty Sark remains one of the most famous examples of a nineteenth-century clipper, built for the competitive tea trade between China and London.

### 3. electronics circuit

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of an electronic circuit that stops a signal from getting too high.

For teachers: a circuit designed to prevent the amplitude of an electrical signal from exceeding a predetermined voltage level.

- The engineer added a clipper to the circuit to protect the speakers.
- In audio engineering, a diode clipper is frequently employed to truncate signal peaks and prevent digital distortion in the recording chain.

### 4. to cut with clippers

verb · CEFR B2

to cut hair or fur using a clipper tool.

For teachers: to trim or style hair, fur, or wool using mechanical or electric clippers.

- He clippers his own hair at home to save money.
- The farmer clippered the sheep's wool before the summer heat became too intense for the flock.

## Examples

- He used a pair of nail clippers before the meeting.
- The barber reached for his electric clipper to trim the hair around the customer's ears.
- While modern cargo ships rely on massive engines, the 19th-century clipper was designed for speed, carrying tea and spices across the oceans in record time.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.