📖 C — The English dictionary · page 35

clams — Everyday, meaning 1: Clams are shellfish with two hard shells joined by a hinge, which live in sand or mud.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Clams are eaten as food, as in clam chowder.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To clam up means to suddenly stop talking, often from shyness or fear.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (US slang, old) Clams can mean dollars.↗ Example: We dug for clams at low tide.↗ · Clam chowder is a creamy soup.↗ · The giant clams on the reef were bigger than me.↗ · When the teacher asked, he clammed up.↗ · Clams breathe through gills.↗ · That bike cost fifty clams!↗ (slang)↗ · A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to them, especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams.↗

clan — Everyday, meaning 1: A clan is a large group of families who share the same ancestor, especially in Scotland and Ireland.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A clan is a big, close family or a group of friends who stick together (informal).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In online games, a clan is a team of players.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A clan can also be a group of animals, such as porpoises, that live and travel together.↗ Example: The MacGregor clan had its own tartan.↗ · The whole clan came round for Gran's birthday.↗ · Each clan in the story had a different leader.↗ · He joined a clan in his online game.↗ · Clans in the Highlands sometimes fought each other.↗ · Our family is a noisy clan.↗ · Porpoises went snorting past in bands and clans.↗

clang — Everyday, meaning 1: To make a loud, ringing sound like metal being hit.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The loud metal sound itself.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In «clanger» (UK, informal): a silly, obvious mistake («drop a clanger»).↗ Example: The iron gate clanged shut behind us.↗ · The fire bell clanged loudly.↗ · A pan fell with a clang on the kitchen floor.↗ · The blacksmith's hammer clanged on the anvil.↗ · The bin lid clanged in the wind.↗ · We heard the clang of the school bell.↗ · About the same time sounded the clang of the warriors' trumpets across the heath.↗

clanger — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal, UK) A clanger is a silly, embarrassing mistake, especially something you say that you should not have said.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «Drop a clanger» means to make such an embarrassing mistake.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Rarely, a clanger is something that makes a loud clanging noise, like a bell clapper.↗ Example: Dad dropped a clanger when he asked Mrs Green when her baby was due — she wasn't pregnant.↗ · Calling the new teacher by the old teacher's name was a bit of a clanger.↗ · I dropped a right clanger in the quiz and said that spiders were insects.↗ · The referee's decision was a total clanger, and everybody groaned.↗ · Oops, that was a clanger — I told Mum about her surprise party.↗ · The goalkeeper's clanger let in an easy goal.↗ · The old bell's iron clanger was rusty.↗

clanging — Everyday, meaning 1: Clanging is making a loud ringing sound of metal hitting metal, like a bell, a pan or a gate.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A clanging sound is loud, harsh and ringing.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (idiom, informal) A clanger or a clanging mistake is a big, embarrassing mistake (from «drop a clanger»).↗ Example: The fire engine came clanging down the street.↗ · The iron gate was clanging in the wind.↗ · I heard the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen.↗ · The school bell was clanging loudly.↗ · The heavy door clanged shut behind the prisoner.↗ · The clanging of the hammer on the metal hurt my ears.↗ · Praise Him with the loud-sounding cymbals; praise Him with the clanging cymbals.↗ (Writings PSA.150.5, JPS 1917)↗

clangorous — Everyday, meaning 1: (literary) Making a loud, ringing, clanging noise, like bells or metal being struck.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Full of harsh, repeated loud sounds.↗ Example: The clangorous church bells woke the whole village.↗ · We heard the clangorous noise of the blacksmith's hammer.↗ · The iron gates shut with a clangorous crash.↗ · The clangorous shipyard rang with hammers all day.↗ · Fire engines raced past with a clangorous alarm.↗ · The poem describes the clangorous city streets.↗

clank — Everyday, meaning 1: To clank is to make a short, loud metal sound, like iron or glasses touching: the sword clanked against his leg.↗ Example: The chains clanked as the prisoner moved.↗ · We clanked our mugs together.↗ · The old robot clanked across the floor.↗

clanking — Everyday, meaning 1: Making a loud metal sound, like swords or chains knocking together: the clanking of armour.↗ Example: We heard the clanking of keys down the corridor.↗ · A clanking pipe kept us awake.↗ · He came up the steps, clanking all the way.↗

clap — Everyday, meaning 1: To hit your hands together, usually again and again, to show you like something, to keep a beat or to get attention.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A clap is one loud sharp sound, like a clap of thunder.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To put something somewhere quickly and firmly: clap a hand over your mouth.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: "Clap eyes on" means to see.↗ Example: Let's all clap for the winners.↗ · Clap the syllables in "elephant": el-e-phant, three claps.↗ · We clapped along to the music.↗ · There was a loud clap of thunder.↗ · The teacher clapped twice and the class went quiet.↗ · Give Ben a big clap for his poem!↗ · She clapped her hand over her mouth in surprise.↗ · Count the claps: clap, clap, clap — that's three.↗ · The Fairy clapped her hands twice.↗ · Let the floods clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy together; (Writings PSA.98.8, JPS 1917)↗ · Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.↗ (Writings JOB.27.23, JPS 1917)↗ · O clap your hands, all ye peoples; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.↗ (Writings PSA.47.2, JPS 1917)↗

clapperboard — Everyday, meaning 1: A board with a hinged stick on top that is clapped shut in front of the camera at the start of each shot of a film, showing the scene and take number.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (North America, building) Clapboard: long, thin, overlapping boards on the outside of wooden houses.↗ Example: «Action!» called the director after the clapperboard snapped shut.↗ · The clapperboard showed «Scene 3, Take 2».↗ · We made a clapperboard for our class film.↗ · The clap helps match the sound to the picture.↗ · The old house in Maine had white clapboard walls.↗ · I held the clapperboard in our school play video.↗

clappers — Everyday, meaning 1: The metal tongue or ball hanging inside a bell that hits it to make it ring (a clapper).↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (UK, informal) In «like the clappers»: very fast or very hard («run like the clappers»).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A device that makes a clapping noise, for example to scare birds, or the clapperboard used when filming.↗ Example: We ran like the clappers to catch the bus.↗ · The bell's clapper swung and struck the side.↗ · The bell-ringers checked the clappers before Sunday service.↗ · Grandad drove like the clappers to get us to the hospital in time.↗ · The rain came down like the clappers.↗ · A clapper scared the birds off the field.↗

clapping — Everyday, meaning 1: Clapping is hitting your hands together again and again to make a sound, to show you liked something or to cheer.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Clapping is the -ing form of «clap»: hitting your hands together, or making a sudden loud noise like thunder.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Clapping also means patting someone in a friendly way: «clapping him on the back».↗ Example: Everyone was clapping at the end of the play.↗ · We kept time by clapping to the music.↗ · The crowd started clapping and cheering.↗ · We played clapping games in the playground.↗ · Clapping hands, she jumped for joy.↗ · The teacher was clapping a rhythm for us to copy.↗ · Thunder was clapping over the hills.↗ · Clapping is how we say «well done» in assembly.↗ · "Oh how capital," said little Ida, clapping her hands.↗

claret — Everyday, meaning 1: A dark red wine, mostly from France; in old stories it is served at feasts and grand dinners.↗ Example: They poured claret into the golden cups.↗ · Claret is a dark red wine.↗

clarification — Everyday, meaning 1: An explanation that makes something clearer or easier to understand.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (science, cooking) Making a liquid clear by removing bits from it (clarifying butter or water).↗ Example: Can I ask for some clarification about the homework?↗ · The teacher gave a quick clarification of the rules.↗ · For clarification, the trip is on Friday, not Thursday.↗ · The company issued a clarification after the mistake.↗ · The question needed clarification before we could answer it.↗ · Clarification of butter removes the milky bits.↗

clarifying — Everyday, meaning 1: Making something clearer or easier to understand, by explaining it more.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (cooking) Making a liquid, such as butter or soup, clear by removing the bits in it.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (adjective) Helping to make something clear: «a clarifying question».↗ Example: Can I ask a clarifying question, please?↗ · The teacher was clarifying the rules of the game.↗ · Thanks for clarifying that; now I understand.↗ · Clarifying the question first helps you solve it.↗ · Mum is clarifying butter for the curry.↗ · The coach drew a picture, clarifying where everyone should stand.↗

clarinet — Everyday, meaning 1: (music) A woodwind instrument shaped like a long black tube with keys and a single reed in the mouthpiece; it makes a smooth, warm sound.↗ Example: My sister plays the clarinet in the school band.↗ · The clarinet has a single reed that vibrates.↗ · I have my clarinet lesson on Tuesdays.↗ · In "Peter and the Wolf", the clarinet plays the cat.↗ · Clarinets are made of wood or plastic.↗ · He practised his clarinet scales every evening.↗ · A clarinet player is called a clarinettist.↗

clarity — Everyday, meaning 1: Being clear and easy to understand.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Being clear to see through or see well, like clean water or a sharp picture.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Clear thinking, when you understand something well.↗ Example: Write your answer with clarity so the teacher can follow it.↗ · The clarity of the lake let us see the fish.↗ · The new TV has amazing picture clarity.↗ · For clarity, use a ruler for your graph.↗ · After a good sleep I had more clarity about the problem.↗ · The teacher explained with great clarity.↗ · Diamonds are judged by their clarity.↗

clash — Everyday, meaning 1: A clash is a fight or strong argument between people or groups: «a clash between fans».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: If two events clash, they happen at the same time so you can't go to both.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: If colours or styles clash, they look bad together.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A clash is a loud metal sound, like cymbals or swords hitting.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: If ideas or opinions clash, they are very different and can't easily agree.↗ Example: The cymbals clashed loudly.↗ · The swords clashed as the knights fought.↗ · My swimming lesson clashes with football practice.↗ · Red and pink can clash.↗ · There was a clash between the two teams' fans.↗ · Their ideas clashed, but they found a way to agree.↗ · The two armies clashed near the river.↗ · That orange shirt clashes with your purple trousers.↗ · In a moment the heavens rang to the clash of swords on bucklers.↗ · He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; he goeth out to meet the clash of arms.↗ (Writings JOB.39.21, JPS 1917)↗

clasp — Everyday, meaning 1: (verb) To hold something tightly in your hand or arms: «She clasped her teddy».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To put your hands together with the fingers locked: «clasp your hands».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (noun) A small metal fastener that holds two parts together, for example on a necklace, bag or belt.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (noun) A tight hold or grip: «a firm clasp».↗ Example: She clasped her little brother's hand as they crossed the road.↗ · He sat with his hands clasped in his lap.↗ · Grandma could not open the tiny clasp on her necklace.↗ · The old diary had a brass clasp and a lock.↗ · The winner clasped the trophy to her chest.↗ · My bag's clasp snapped open and my pencils fell out.↗ · They clasped each other in a big hug at the airport.↗ · Clasp your hands behind your head and lie back.↗ · And the Queen undid the clasps.↗ · And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.↗ (Torah EXO.36.18, JPS 1917)↗ · the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; (Torah EXO.35.11, JPS 1917)↗ · And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps; so the tabernacle was one.↗ (Torah EXO.36.13, JPS 1917)↗

class — Everyday, meaning 1: A class is a group of students who learn together.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A class is a lesson or a time of teaching: «a dance class».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A class is a group of things that are alike: «Mammals are a class of animals».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Class can mean the level of a ticket or a seat: «first class».↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Class can mean a group of people with the same money or job in society: «working class», «middle class».↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (casual) «Class» (UK, Ireland) means excellent: «That goal was class!»; «classy» means stylish.↗ Everyday, meaning 7: (rude) «No class» means rude or badly behaved.↗ Everyday, meaning 8: (formal) Exams say «cohort», «form» (UK), «grade» (USA), «a teaching group», «classify» and «category».↗ Example: There are 24 students in the class.↗ · The school has 6 classes.↗ · Each class has 25 students.↗ · How many students are in all the classes?↗ · Please be quiet in class.↗ · I go to a swimming class on Saturdays.↗ · Birds and mammals are two classes of animals.↗ · That goal was class, mate!↗ · Zero class, he ate 5 of my chips without asking.↗ · We flew first class once.↗ · An institution comprises six cohorts, each of 25 pupils.↗ Compute the aggregate enrolment.↗ · Classify the following animals: bird, fish, mammal.↗ · These stories are of several different classes.↗ · In the first edition I overlooked this word three; and putting and for as, made four classes of serving beings.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · With these three classes, or groups, of letters were created the various parts of the world ish'-j), of the year ("Jti') and of tiie soul.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗