noun
clipper
KLIHP-uh
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
Word Forms
clippered past tense, clippers plural, Clippers plural, clippers singular
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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.