clipper

IPA/ˈklɪpə(r)/
KK[klˈɪpɚ]IPA/ˈklɪpər/

clipper — noun

  • clippersingular
  • clippersplural

1. a hand tool with two sharp blades that are pushed together to cut small or thin

1.名詞B1
釋義

a hand tool with two sharp blades that are pushed together to cut small or thin items such as fingernails, hair, wire, or plant stems

例句

Romi trimmed the dog's fur at home using a pair of electric clippers.

electric clippers for pet grooming

Asher bought new nail clippers because his old ones were too blunt.

collocation: nail clippers

同義詞
  • trimmer

    often used for electric or battery-powered cutting tools; overlaps with clippers but not identical

  • shears

    larger, two-handled cutting tools for garden use; heavier than typical clippers

  • scissors

    general cutting tool with two blades joined in the middle; clippers usually have a spring mechanism

  • cutters

    used for wire or bolt cutting; more specific to metalwork

文法句型

a pair of + clippers

nail/hair/garden + clippers

clippers + for + noun

用法筆記

In everyday speech, this word is almost always used in the plural form (clippers), even when referring to a single tool. A single unit is called 'a pair of clippers'. Specific types are commonly named after what they cut: nail clippers, hair clippers, hedge clippers.

常見錯誤

❌I need a clipper to cut my nails.
✅I need a pair of nail clippers to cut my nails.
💡The tool is nearly always plural and often preceded by 'a pair of'.
❌She used clippers to cut the cake.
✅She used clippers to trim the hedge.
💡Clippers are for trimming, cutting, or clipping — not for slicing food.

2. a fast ship with a long, narrow body and many sails, built in the 1800s to carry

2.名詞B2
釋義

a fast ship with a long, narrow body and many sails, built in the 1800s to carry valuable goods such as tea, spices, and wool quickly over long distances

例句

The Cutty Sark is one of the most famous clippers ever built and is now on display in London.

famous historic clipper ship

Tea clippers raced from China to London to bring the first fresh tea of the season.

collocation: tea clipper

同義詞
  • sailing ship

    a general term for any large ship powered by sails; less specific than clipper

  • tall ship

    a modern term for large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessels; can include clippers but also other types

文法句型

the + name + clipper

a + clipper + (for/from + place)

用法筆記

Often capitalised when referring to a specific named ship: 'the Thermopylae clipper'. Frequently appears with a modifier such as 'tea clipper' or 'wool clipper' that indicates the type of cargo.

常見錯誤

❌The clipper was a slow, heavy boat.
✅The clipper was a fast, lightweight sailing ship.
💡Clippers were known for their speed, not for being slow or heavy.