clipping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “clipping” mean?
The action of cutting something short or trimming it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action of cutting something short or trimming it.
The process of forming a new word by shortening an existing word (e.g., 'ad' from 'advertisement'). Also, a small piece trimmed from something, or the loss of a signal's amplitude above/below a level.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. The act of cutting hair/nails is equally common. In publishing/media, 'press cutting' (UK) vs. 'press clipping' (US). The linguistic term is identical.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. In linguistics, it's a standard, descriptive term.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in the 'press clipping' context. Otherwise, comparable.
Grammar
How to Use “clipping” in a Sentence
clipping of [noun] (e.g., a clipping of 'photograph')[noun] clipping (e.g., newspaper clipping)clipping from [source]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clipping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was clipping the hedge when it started to rain.
- The ticket inspector clipped my ticket.
American English
- He's clipping coupons from the newspaper.
- The car clipped the curb as it turned.
adjective
British English
- The horse moved at a clipping pace around the track. (literary/archaic)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in 'clipping service' (a service that compiles press mentions).
Academic
Common in linguistics for the process of word formation (e.g., 'clipping and blending').
Everyday
Common for physical trimmings (hair, nails, hedge clippings).
Technical
Common in electronics/signal processing for distorted signals, and in computer graphics for defining a visible area.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clipping”
- Using 'clipping' to mean 'a video clip'.
- Confusing 'clipping' (noun) with 'clipping' (adjective, as in 'a clipping pace' – which is archaic).
- Misspelling as 'cliping'.
- Using it as a synonym for 'citation' in academic writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not exactly. Clipping is a type of abbreviation where a word is shortened without changing its meaning (e.g., 'ad' from 'advertisement'). Acronyms (NASA) and initialisms (FBI) are other types of abbreviations.
The related verb is 'to clip'. 'Clipping' is the present participle or gerund of that verb (e.g., 'He is clipping the bushes'). As a standalone noun, it rarely functions as a verb.
They are largely synonymous in this context. 'Press clipping' is slightly more common in American English, while 'press cutting' is preferred in British English.
No. Clippings specifically shorten a longer word, often keeping the beginning ('phone' from 'telephone') or the end ('bus' from 'omnibus'). Blends ('brunch'), acronyms, and intentional misspellings ('lite') are different processes.
The action of cutting something short or trimming it.
Clipping is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Clipping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɪp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɪp.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a barber CLIPPING hair with CLIPPERS. The little pieces that fall are CLIPPINGS. Similarly, a long word gets 'a haircut' to become a short, new word like 'phone'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHORTENING IS CUTTING. (We cut words down to size.)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'clipping' NOT a standard technical term?