Word
clipper
Phoneticsclip·per, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɫɪpɝ/
UK/klˈɪpɐ/
Definitions
01cutting tool
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun
n. a tool used for cutting hair, fingernails, or hedges.
n. 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.”
Synonyms
02sailing ship
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Archaic
n. a very fast sailing ship with many masts, popular in the 1800s.
n. a fast, multi-masted sailing vessel of the mid-19th century, designed for speed and long-distance trade.
Español:clíper
“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.”
Synonyms
03electronics circuit
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a part of an electronic circuit that stops a signal from getting too high.
n. 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.”
Synonyms
04to cut with clippers
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to cut hair or fur using a clipper tool.
v. 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.”
Usage
Often used in the plural form 'clippers' when referring to the tool for hair or nails.
Real-World Examples
“Something that offers a variety of length options but can also have the guard removed.”
“I recommend the Andis Slimline Pro or the Wahl Clipper Detailer,” says Oakley.” Etymology
From Middle English clipper, equivalent to clip (“cut, shorten”) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns). The type of sailing ship is probably also from clip, in the sense of “move or run rapidly”. Perhaps influenced by Middle Dutch klepper (“swift horse”), from kleppen (“to clap”), which is onomatopoeic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/clipper
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0