Clipping
/ˈklɪpɪŋ/
Definitions
2 meaningsA small piece that has been cut off something.
/ˈklɪpɪŋ/
A small piece cut off something.
The gardener gathered the grass clippings.
💡 Simply: Imagine cutting a tiny piece of something – that tiny piece is called a clipping! Like clipping your toenails, and the nail pieces are clippings.
👶 For kids: A little piece that's been cut off.
More Examples
She showed me a newspaper clipping about the event.
How It's Used
"She collected the grass clippings after mowing the lawn."
"I keep a clipping of that article for reference."
To cut something short, often with shears or scissors.
/ˈklɪpɪŋ/
To cut something short.
She clipped the hedges.
💡 Simply: Clipping is like using scissors to quickly cut something short. Imagine clipping your coupons, or clipping a plant's overgrown branches.
👶 For kids: To cut something short with scissors.
More Examples
He clipped the coupons from the newspaper.
How It's Used
"The barber is clipping his hair."
"They are clipping the sheep."
From the verb "clip", ultimately from Middle English "clippen", meaning "to cut with shears".
The word 'clipping' has maintained a consistent meaning throughout its recorded usage.
Memory tip
Think of scissors clipping paper; the cut-off piece is a clipping.
Word Origin
"to cut with shears"