ENGLISH
REFERENCE

clock

n. · v.
US //ˈkɫɑk// UK //klˈɒk// clock
  1. 1 timepiece (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a device that shows what time it is, usually on a wall or a desk.

    an instrument for measuring and indicating time, typically not worn on the person.

    Example

    The clock on the kitchen wall says it is nearly lunchtime.

    Example

    The grandfather clock in the hallway struck twelve, its deep chime echoing through the silent house.
    • timepiece
    • chronometer
    Pitfall
    I am wearing a gold clock on my wrist.
    I am wearing a gold watch on my wrist.

    Use 'watch' for a timepiece worn on the body and 'clock' for one on a wall or table.

  2. 2 vehicle odometer (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informal

    the instrument in a car that shows how many miles or kilometres it has travelled.

    the odometer of a motor vehicle, indicating the total distance travelled.

    Example

    The used car was cheap because it had over 200,000 miles on the clock.

    Example

    The mechanic suspected the vehicle had been tampered with, as the wear on the pedals did not match the low mileage on the clock.
    • odometer
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to measure speed or time (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to measure how fast someone or something is moving.

    to record the speed or duration of an object or event, often using a stopwatch or radar.

    Example

    The police officer clocked the driver going 90 miles per hour.

    Example

    The sprinter was clocked at under ten seconds during the semi-finals, setting a new personal best for the season.
  2. 4 to notice (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to see or notice something, especially something interesting or unusual.

    to perceive, notice, or recognize someone or something.

    Example

    I clocked him walking into the shop earlier this morning.

    Example

    She immediately clocked the tension in the room, realizing that the meeting had not gone as planned.
  3. 5 to hit (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    to hit someone very hard, usually in the face.

    to strike a person with significant force, typically on the head or face.

    Example

    He almost got clocked in the face during the argument.

    Example

    The protagonist narrowly avoided being clocked by the villain's heavy swing in the final action sequence.
Etymology 1

First use appears c. 1370. From Middle English clokke, clok, cloke (“clock”), from Middle Dutch clocke (“bell, clock”), from Old Dutch klokka, from Medieval Latin clocca (“bell, clock, cloak”), probably of Celtic origin, from Proto-Celtic klokkos (“bell”) (compare Welsh cloch (“bell”), Old Irish cloc (“bell, clock”)), either onomatopoeic or from Proto-Indo-European klek- (“to laugh, cackle”) (compare Proto-Germanic hlahjaną (“to laugh”)). Cognate with Old English clucge (“bell”), Saterland Frisian Klokke (“bell, clock”), Dutch klok (“clock, bell”), Low German Klock (“bell, clock”), German Glocke (“bell”), Danish and Norwegian klokke (“clock, bell”), Faroese klokka (“clock, bell”), Icelandic klukka (“clock, bell”), Swedish klocka (“clock, bell”), Asturian llueca (“cowbell”), Galician and Portuguese choca (“cowbell”), Doublet of cloak and cloche.

Etymology 2

Uncertain; designs may have originally been bell-shaped and thus related to Etymology 1, above.

Etymology 3

From Middle English clokken, from Old English cloccian, ultimately imitative; compare Dutch klokken, English cluck.

Word family
Idioms17 entries

© 2026 English Reference