klɒk
klɑːk
1 [countable] an instrument for measuring and showing time, in a room or on the wall of a building (not worn or carried like a watch)It was ten past six by the kitchen clock.The clock struck twelve/midnight.The clock is fast/slow.The clock has stopped.the clock face (= the front part of a clock with the numbers on)The hands of the clock crept slowly around.Ellen heard the loud ticking of the clock in the hall. see also alarm clock, biological clock, body clock, carriage clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, o'clock, time clock2 the clock [singular] (informal) = milometera used car with 20000 miles on the clockIdioms
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.around/round the clock
all day and all night without stopping
put the clocks forward/back
(British English) (North American English set/move the clocks ahead/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 summerRemember to put your clocks back tonight.put/turn the clock back
1 to return to a situation that existed in the past; to remember a past ageI wish we could turn the clock back two years and give the marriage another chance.2 (disapproving) to return to old-fashioned methods or ideasThe new censorship law will turn the clock back 50 years.run down/out the clock
(US) 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 compare time-wastingthe clocks go forward/back
the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summer
