clipping

/ˈklɪpɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈklɪpɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkli-piŋ/ (ame, mw)

clipping — noun

  • clippingsingular
  • clippingsplural

1. a small piece trimmed or snipped away from a larger thing, like grass, hair, fin

1.名詞B2
釋義

a small piece trimmed or snipped away from a larger thing, like grass, hair, fingernails, or paper

例句

Yuki swept the grass clippings into a pile beside the lawnmower.

collocation: grass clippings

The barber brushed the hair clippings from Diego's shoulders.

同義詞
  • cutting

    more common in British English for this meaning; also refers specifically to a plant piece used for propagation

  • trimming

    bits removed to make something neat or tidy; also used for decorative extras

  • offcut

    a leftover piece after cutting material to size, usually larger and more substantial than a clipping

用法筆記

Almost always used in the plural (clippings) when referring to the pieces themselves, since a single clipping is rarely the focus.

常見錯誤

❌There are hair clipping on the floor.
✅There are hair clippings on the floor.
💡When talking about the cut pieces, use the plural form 'clippings'.

2. a story or picture that someone cuts from a printed newspaper or magazine to sav

2.名詞B2
釋義

a story or picture that someone cuts from a printed newspaper or magazine to save

例句

Oluwaseun kept a yellowed newspaper clipping about his grandfather's bakery.

collocation: newspaper clipping

Among Amina's keepsakes was a clipping of her mother winning the school spelling bee.

同義詞
  • cutting

    the preferred term in British English for a newspaper or magazine clipping

  • press clipping

    a more formal term, often used in media monitoring and public relations

常見錯誤

❌I read a clipping about the election in the newspaper.
✅I read an article about the election and cut it out as a clipping.
💡A clipping is something already cut out of the paper; if it is still inside the newspaper, call it an article.

3. in American football, an illegal move where a player blocks an opponent from beh

3.名詞C1
釋義

in American football, an illegal move where a player blocks an opponent from behind, targeting below the waist, while that opponent does not have the ball, resulting in a penalty

例句

The referee threw a flag and called a clipping penalty on number 74.

collocation: clipping penalty

After the clipping foul, the visiting team lost fifteen yards on the play.

collocation: clipping foul

同義詞
  • illegal block

    a broader category of penalties in football; clipping is one specific type of illegal block

  • block in the back

    a similar but distinct foul; clipping specifically targets below the waist

用法筆記

Specific to American football and distinct from a legal block: clipping always involves contact from behind and below the waist on a player not carrying the ball. The penalty is 15 yards.

常見錯誤

❌The cornerback was called for clipping the wide receiver.
✅The cornerback was called for a clipping foul against the wide receiver.
💡In American football, use 'clipping' as a noun (a clipping foul, a clipping penalty), not as a verb describing the action.