Meaning of clock In English

• 0 a device for measuring and showing time, usually found in or on a building and not worn by a person:

  • We have an antique clock on our mantelpiece.

  • The town-hall clock says (= shows that the time is) nine o'clock.

  • I think the kitchen clock is fast/slow (= is showing a later/earlier time than it should).

  • The clock began to strike twelve.

  • She set her clock (= put it to the right time) by the time signal on the radio.

  • Don't forget to turn the clocks back tonight.

• 1 a speedometer (= a device that measures speed):

  • I was only doing 30 mph on the clock.

  • My car's only got 10,000 miles on the clock.

• 2 to take a particular time exactly to do or complete something:

  • He clocked ten seconds in the 100 metres (= he ran it in ten seconds).

• 3 to show or reach a particular speed or distance on a measuring device:

  • [ + -ing verb ] The police clocked him doing 80 mph in a 50 mph area.

  • Jim's car has clocked (up) (= travelled) 40,000 miles in less than two years.

• 4 to hit someone, especially on the head or face:

  • Then the other guy turned round and clocked him one (= hit him).

• 5 a device for measuring and showing time, often placed on a surface or attached to a wall:

  • an alarm clock

  • The clock is about ten minutes fast/slow (= it shows a later/earlier time than it should).

  • Cleveland tied the game with five seconds on the clock (= still available).

• 6 to use an amount of time, esp. as measured by a clock:

  • She clocked the fastest time in practice runs for the women’s downhill skiing event.

• 7 at work:

  • They are covered by the same medical and liability insurance that covers them when they're on the clock.