noun
clipper
KLIHP-uh
Clipper (noun) means a fast sailing ship with a long, narrow hull, built for speed in the 19th century. Example: “The tea clipper raced across the ocean to deliver its cargo first.”
noun
1
A fast sailing ship with a long, narrow hull, built for speed in the 19th century.
"The tea clipper raced across the ocean to deliver its cargo first."
2
A tool used to cut or trim something, such as hair or nails.
"He trimmed his beard with electric clippers."
How to use clipper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fast sailing ship, or a cutting tool such as hair clippers.
Common pairings
nail clipper
tea clipper
hair clippers
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Word forms
- Plural
- clippers
- Third person singular
- clippers
- Past tense
- clippered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tea _____ raced across the ocean to deliver its cargo first.
Etymology
From clip ("cut" or "move fast") plus -er — the sailing ship sense likely comes from "clip" meaning to move at a rapid pace.
Synonyms
View more →
limiter
clipper ship
Related words
Rhymes for clipper
See all rhymes for clipper →Frequently asked questions
What does “clipper” mean?
The word “clipper” means a fast sailing ship with a long, narrow hull, built for speed in the 19th century. In plain terms, a fast sailing ship, or a cutting tool such as hair clippers.
How do you pronounce “clipper”?
“Clipper” is pronounced KLIHP-uh (/ˈklɪp.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “clipper” in a sentence?
Here is “clipper” used in a sentence: “The tea clipper raced across the ocean to deliver its cargo first.”
What part of speech is “clipper”?
“Clipper” is a noun.
How many meanings does “clipper” have?
“Clipper” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fast sailing ship with a long, narrow hull, built for speed in the 19th century.
