From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Clock \Clock\ (kl[o^]k), noun [AS. clucge bell; akin to D. klok clock, bell, G. glocke, Dan. klokke, Sw. klocka, Icel. klukka bell, LL. clocca, cloca (whence F. cloche); al perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. & Gael. clog bell, clock, W. cloch bell. Cf. {Cloak}.]
1. A machine for measuring time, indicating the hour and other divisions; in ordinary mechanical clocks for domestic or office use the time is indicated on a typically circular face or dial plate containing two hands, pointing to numbers engraved on the periphery of the face, thus showing the hours and minutes. The works of a mechanical clock are moved by a weight or a spring, and it is often so constructed as to tell the hour by the stroke of a hammer on a bell. In electrical or electronic clocks, the time may be indicated, as on a mechanical clock, by hands, but may also be indicated by direct digital readout, with the hours and minutes in normal Arabic numerals. The readout using hands is often called analog to distinguish it from the digital readout. Some clocks also indicate the seconds. Clocks are not adapted, like the watch, to be carried on the person. Specialized clocks, such as {atomic clocks}, may be constructed on different principles, and may have a very high precision for use in scientific observations. [1913 Webster +PJC]
2. A watch, esp. one that strikes. [Obs.] --Walton.
3. The striking of a clock. [Obs.] --Dryden.
4. A figure or figured work on the ankle or side of a stocking. --Swift.
Note: The phrases what o'clock? it is nine o'clock, etc., are contracted from what of the clock? it is nine of the clock, etc.
{Alarm clock}. See under {Alarm}.
{Astronomical clock}. (a) A clock of superior construction, with a compensating pendulum, etc., to measure time with great accuracy, for use in astronomical observatories; -- called a regulator when used by watchmakers as a standard for regulating timepieces. (b) A clock with mechanism for indicating certain astronomical phenomena, as the phases of the moon, position of the sun in the ecliptic, equation of time, etc.
{Electric clock}. (a) A clock moved or regulated by electricity or electro-magnetism. (b) A clock connected with an electro-magnetic recording apparatus.
{Ship's clock} (Naut.), a clock arranged to strike from one to eight strokes, at half hourly intervals, marking the divisions of the ship's watches.
{Sidereal clock}, an astronomical clock regulated to keep sidereal time.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Clock \Clock\ (kl[o^]k), verb (used with an object) To ornament with figured work, as the side of a stocking.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Clock \Clock\, verb (used with an object) & i. To call, as a hen. See {Cluck}. [R.]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Clock \Clock\, noun (Zo["o]l.) A large beetle, esp. the European dung beetle ({Scarab[ae]us stercorarius}).
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a timepiece that shows the time of day
verb
1: measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time; "he clocked the runners" [syn: {time}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
24 Moby Thesaurus words for "clock": Big Ben, beat time, brood, chronometer, clock movement, clockworks, cover, fix the time, horologe, horologium, keep time, mark time, measure time, set, set the time, sit, ticker, time, timekeeper, timepiece, timer, turnip, watch, watchworks
From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:
1. n
1. [techspeak] The master oscillator that steps a CPU or other digital circuit through its paces. This has nothing to do with the time of day, although the software counter that keeps track of the latter may be derived from the former. 2. vt. To run a CPU or other digital circuit at a particular rate. "If you clock it at 100MHz, it gets warm.". See {overclock}. 3. vt. To force a digital circuit from one state to the next by applying a single clock pulse. "The data must be stable 10ns before you clock the latch."
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
clock A processor's clock or one {cycle} thereof. The relative execution times of instructions on a computer are usually measured by number of clock cycles rather than seconds. One good reason for this is that {clock rate}s for various models of the computer may increase as technology improves, and it is usually the relative times one is interested in when discussing the {instruction set}. (1994-12-16)
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
CLOCK, noun A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time remains to him.
A busy man complained one day: "I get no time!" "What's that you say?" Cried out his friend, a lazy quiz; "You have, sir, all the time there is. There's plenty, too, and don't you doubt it -- We're never for an hour without it." Purzil Crofe
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