What is clock? Pronunciation and usage in English

clock means . Learn how to pronounce and use clock through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of clock

clocknoun

/klɒk/
Definition & pronunciation of clock

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "clock" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and it depends slightly on where you are (British vs. American English).

1. American English (Most Common):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈklɒk/ (approximately "clok")
  • Breakdown:
    • "cl": Pronounced like the "cl" in "class" - a quick, short "cl" sound.
    • "o": Pronounced like the "o" in "hot" - a short, open "o" sound.
    • "ck": Pronounced like the "ck" in "neck" - a short, sharp "k" sound.

2. British English:

  • Pronunciation: /klɒk/ (approximately "clok") - very similar to American English!
  • Breakdown: The sounds are virtually identical.

Tips for both American and British:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("cl").
  • Don't over-emphasize the "o": Keep it short and crisp.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "clock" into Google Translate, select the language you want, and click the speaker icon. (https://translate.google.com/)
  • Forvo: A pronunciation dictionary with native speakers: https://forvo.com/word/clock/

To help me give you even more specific advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (Country/region) – Knowing this helps me tailor the pronunciation advice to be most helpful for you.

Usage and examples with the word clock in English

Let's break down how to use the word "clock" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different meanings and how to use them:

1. Timekeeping Device (Most Common)

  • Definition: A device used to tell the time.
  • Examples:
    • "I need to wind up the clock."
    • "My grandfather told me stories about his antique clock."
    • "What time is it? Can you check the clock?"
    • "I have a digital clock on my phone."
    • "The old clock chimed loudly."

2. Clockwork (Referring to Mechanism)

  • Definition: Relating to a clock or clock mechanism; intricate and carefully planned; precise and methodical.
  • Examples:
    • “The robot's movements were controlled by clockwork.” (Referring to the mechanical parts)
    • "He operates with clockwork precision." (Meaning he's highly organized and efficient.)
    • “Her responses were entirely clockwork - always the same, predictable.”

3. Clock (As a Verb - To Mark Time)

  • Definition: To mark the passage of time, especially by a clock.
  • Examples:
    • "The factory clocks every hour." (meaning the alarm goes off every hour)
    • "The server clocks each request to measure response time." (a technical term)
    • "My watch clocks the time accurately."

4. Clock (Referring to a Specific Time - Often Used in Phrases)

  • Definition: Used in phrases to indicate a specific time.
  • Examples:
    • "It’s quarter past two." (It’s 2:15)
    • "It’s half past three." (It’s 3:30)
    • "It’s ten to six." (It’s 5:50)
    • “It’s twenty to nine.” (It’s 8:40)
    • "Around clock" (Around the clock – meaning 24 hours a day)

5. Clock (Figurative - As a Symbol)

  • Definition: Can represent time passing, a sense of urgency, or a rigid schedule.
  • Examples:
    • "Time is running out." (Implies a "clock" ticking)
    • "He lived his life by the clock." (Meaning he was always extremely punctual and scheduled.)
    • “They were on a tight clock to finish the project.”

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Meaning Example Context
Timekeeping Device "I wound the clock." Everyday life, describing a real clock
Clockwork "His actions were clockwork." Describing a methodical style
Verb (to mark time) "The clock ticks." Technical, describing a process
Time Phrases "It's quarter past..." Expressing time
Figurative "Time's running out." Metaphorical representation

Resources for Further Learning:

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Synonyms for the word clock

Idioms of the word clock

against the clock
if you do something against the clock, you do it fast in order to finish before a particular time
  • It was a race against the clock to get the building work finished in time.
  • to work against the clock
around/round the clock
all day and all night without stopping
  • Staff have been working around the clock to resolve the problems.
beat the clock
to finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time
  • The player beat the clock and set a new record.
clean somebody's clock
to defeat or do better than somebody at something
  • She really cleaned his clock in that debate.
to hit somebody or beat them in a fight
  • There was a fight and my grandfather cleaned the guy's clock.
the clock is ticking (down)
used to say that there's not much time left before something happens
  • The clock is ticking down to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
  • The clock is ticking for one mystery lottery winner who has less than 24 hours to claim a £64 million prize.
the clocks go forward/back
the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summer
  • The clocks go back tonight.
put/turn the clock back
to return to a situation that existed in the past; to remember a past age
  • I wish we could turn the clock back two years and give the marriage another chance.
  • Let's turn back the clock to the last decade.
(disapproving)to return to old-fashioned methods or ideas
  • The new censorship law will turn the clock back 50 years.
put the clocks forward/back
to change the time shown by clocks, usually by one hour, when the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summer
  • Remember to put your clocks back tonight.
a race against time/the clock
a situation in which you have to do something or finish something very fast before it is too late
  • Getting food to the starving refugees is now a race against time.
run down/out the clock
if a sports team tries to run down/out the clock at the end of a game, it stops trying to score and just tries to keep hold of the ball to stop the other team from scoring
    stop the clock
    to stop measuring time in a game or an activity that has a time limit
      watch the clock
      (disapproving)to be careful not to work longer than the required time; to think more about when your work will finish than about the work itself
      • employees who are always watching the clock

      Practice with vocabulary clock

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. She glanced at the ______ to check the time before her meeting.
      2. The ______ on the wall was ticking loudly, making it hard to concentrate.
      3. He relied on his ______ to wake him up every morning.
      4. The museum displayed an ancient ______ used by sailors for navigation.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. What do you use to tell the time in a room?
        a) clock
        b) calendar
        c) watch
        d) timer
      2. Which of these is not a synonym for a time-measuring device?
        a) chronometer
        b) stopwatch
        c) clock
        d) thermometer
      3. The ______ in the hallway chimed at every hour.
        a) clock
        b) alarm
        c) schedule
        d) calendar
      4. What is a portable device used to check the time on the go?
        a) clock
        b) watch
        c) stopwatch
        d) calendar
      5. The ______ was set five minutes early to avoid being late.
        a) alarm
        b) clock
        c) timer
        d) sundial

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. Original: She looked at the device to see how much time was left.
        Rewrite: She looked at the ______ to see how much time was left.
      2. Original: The sound of ticking filled the quiet room.
        Rewrite: The ______’s ticking filled the quiet room.
      3. Original: He checked his watch to ensure he wasn’t late.
        Rewrite: He checked his ______ to ensure he wasn’t late.

      Answer:

      Exercise 1:

      1. clock
      2. clock
      3. alarm
      4. timepiece

      Exercise 2:

      1. a) clock
      2. d) thermometer
      3. a) clock
      4. b) watch
      5. b) clock

      Exercise 3:

      1. Rewrite: She looked at the clock to see how much time was left.
      2. Rewrite: The clock’s ticking filled the quiet room.
      3. Rewrite: He checked his watch to ensure he wasn’t late.

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