CLOCK

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does clock mean? 

• CLOCK (noun)
  The noun CLOCK has 1 sense:

1. a timepiece that shows the time of day

  Familiarity information: CLOCK used as a noun is very rare.

• CLOCK (verb)
  The verb CLOCK has 1 sense:

1. measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time

  Familiarity information: CLOCK used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CLOCK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A timepiece that shows the time of day

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("clock" is a kind of...):

horologe; timekeeper; timepiece (a measuring instrument or device for keeping time)

Meronyms (parts of "clock"):

movement (the driving and regulating parts of a mechanism (as of a watch or clock))

fusee; fusee drive (a spirally grooved spindle in a clock that counteracts the diminishing power of the uncoiling mainspring)

clock dial; clock face (the face of a clock showing hours and minutes of the day)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "clock"):

alarm; alarm clock (a clock that wakes a sleeper at some preset time)

analog clock (a clock that displays the time of day by the position of hands on a dial)

chronometer (an accurate clock (especially used in navigation))

cuckoo clock (clock that announces the hours with a sound like the call of the cuckoo)

digital clock (a clock that displays the time of day digitally)

electric clock (a clock using a small electric motor)

pendulum clock (a clock regulated by a pendulum)

system clock (a time-of-day clock in a computer system)

time clock (clock used to record the hours that people work)

turret clock (a clock with more than one dial to show the time in all directions from a tower)

wall clock (a clock mounted on a wall)

clepsydra; water clock; water glass (clock that measures time by the escape of water)

Instance hyponyms:

Big Ben (clock in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, London)

Derivation:

clock (measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time)

• CLOCK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they clock    ... he / she / it clocks   
Past simple: clocked   
Past participle: clocked   
-ing form: clocking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

clock; time

Context example:

he clocked the runners

Hypernyms (to "clock" is one way to...):

measure; quantify (express as a number or measure or quantity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "clock"):

mistime (time incorrectly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

clock (a timepiece that shows the time of day)

clocking (the time taken to traverse a measured course)

 Context examples 

I was very much surprised therefore, when yesterday, about three o’clock in the afternoon, he walked into my office in the city.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But there is a ring at the bell, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At ten o’clock the same night I started off upon my journey.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I won't start out till ten o'clock.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It was two o'clock before we found a suitable opportunity for our attempt.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I set the breakfast-table in the cabin, and at seven o’clock waited on the hunters and officers.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

At eleven o'clock the man is half a mile away. At one o'clock he is a quarter of a mile away.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

About twelve o’clock we heard the terrible news.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Indeed, it seemed impossible for either of us to remain much longer in the house; the fall of coals in the kitchen grate, the very ticking of the clock, filled us with alarms.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)