clock

clock1 [ klak ] noun count **

an object that shows the time. The object like a clock you wear on your wrist is called a watch. Clocks either have a background called a face with hands that point to the hours and minutes, or they are digital clocks that show the time as a set of numbers. You say a clock is slow when it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time. You say it is fast when it shows a time that is later than the correct time:

The only sound was the clock ticking.

the kitchen/church/bedside clock: I glanced at the kitchen clock.

the clock strikes one/five/eleven (o'clock): The church clock struck 10 o'clock.

set/adjust a clock (=change it to show the correct time): We need to set all the clocks back one hour.

against the clock

1. ) trying very hard to finish something before a particular time:

The entire department is working against the clock to meet the deadline.

2. ) if you run, swim, etc. against the clock, you are running, swimming, etc. for a particular distance as fast as possible

around the clock

all day and all night:

Rescuers worked around the clock to free people trapped in the wreckage.

the clock is ticking

used for saying that someone must do something quickly because there will soon be no more time left

on the clock

1. ) the amount of time on the clock is the amount of time since something started. The amount of time left on the clock or still on the clock is the amount of time before something finishes.

2. ) INFORMAL used for saying how many miles a vehicle's ODOMETER or SPEEDOMETER shows:

a car with over 82,000 miles on the clock

run the clock down or run out the clock or kill the clock

in the final part of a sports game, to prevent the opposite team from getting the ball so that they are unable to score:

All Miami has to do is run out the clock to be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.

turn/set/put the clock back

1. ) to change the time on a clock to an earlier time

2. ) to return to a time in the past:

If we could turn the clock back, would you actually change anything?

turn/set/put the clock forward

1. ) to change the time on a clock to a later time

2. ) to think about a time in the future, and imagine that it is that time

watch the clock

to keep looking to see what time it is because you are bored or want something to end

clock

clock 2 [ klak ] verb transitive

1. ) to travel at a particular speed in a race:

the skier who clocked the fastest time in practice runs

a ) to measure or record the speed at which a person or vehicle is traveling:

He was charged with dangerous driving after being clocked at 112 mph.

2. ) INFORMAL to hit someone

3. ) BRITISH INFORMAL to notice someone

,clock `in or ,clock `on phrasal verb intransitive

in a factory, to pass a special card through a piece of equipment to record that you have arrived at work

,clock `off or ,clock `out phrasal verb intransitive

in a factory, to pass a special card through a piece of equipment to record that you are leaving work:

The day shift was clocking off.

,clock `up phrasal verb transitive

to reach a particular number or amount:

Dawson has clocked up 34 years as a police officer.