1clock 
/ˈklɑ:k/ noun
plural clocks /ˈklɑ:k/ noun 1 [count] : a device that shows what time it is and that is usually placed in a room or attached to a wall
▪ She looked/glanced at the clock on the wall. It was now 2:30. ▪ the hands/face of the clock ▪ a digital clock — often used before another noun ▪ a clock tower [=a tower with a clock on at least one of its sides] ▪ a clock face — compare watch; see also alarm clock, atomic clock, biological clock, body clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock 2 the clock : a clock that is used in sports and that shows how much time remains for a particular part of a game
▪ They were winning by 2 points with 10 seconds (left) on the clock. ▪ They stopped the (game) clock with eight seconds remaining. ◊In U.S. English, to eat up the clock or run out the clock or kill the clock is to keep control of the ball or puck near the end of a game so that your opponent will not have a chance to score.
▪ We kept moving the ball to try to eat up the clock. ▪ If we can run out the clock, we can keep our lead and win. — see also shot clock 3 the clock : time clock
▪ I punched the clock at 8:45 and started working right away. 4 the clock chiefly Brit, informal : a device that shows how far a vehicle has traveled : odometer
▪ a car with 100,000 miles on the clock
▪ She looked/glanced at the clock on the wall. It was now 2:30. ▪ the hands/face of the clock ▪ a digital clock — often used before another noun ▪ a clock tower [=a tower with a clock on at least one of its sides] ▪ a clock face — compare watch; see also alarm clock, atomic clock, biological clock, body clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock
▪ They were winning by 2 points with 10 seconds (left) on the clock. ▪ They stopped the (game) clock with eight seconds remaining. ◊In U.S. English, to eat up the clock or run out the clock or kill the clock is to keep control of the ball or puck near the end of a game so that your opponent will not have a chance to score.
▪ We kept moving the ball to try to eat up the clock. ▪ If we can run out the clock, we can keep our lead and win. — see also shot clock
▪ I punched the clock at 8:45 and started working right away.
▪ a car with 100,000 miles on the clock
against the clock 1 : in order to do or finish something before a particular time
▪ On our last project, we were working/racing against the clock. ▪ It was a race against the clock to finish the job on time. 2 ◊If a race is against the clock, the time of each racer is measured and the racer with the fastest time wins.
▪ One by one the skiers sped downhill, racing against the clock.
▪ On our last project, we were working/racing against the clock. ▪ It was a race against the clock to finish the job on time.
▪ One by one the skiers sped downhill, racing against the clock.
around the clock also round the clock
: throughout the entire day and night : every hour of the day
▪ Our stores are now open around the clock. [=our stores are open 24 hours a day] ▪ Reporters worked around the clock to cover the story.
▪ Our stores are now open around the clock. [=our stores are open 24 hours a day] ▪ Reporters worked around the clock to cover the story.
beat the clock
: to do or finish something quickly before a particular time
▪ In a desperate attempt to beat the clock, I raced to mail my tax return before midnight.
▪ In a desperate attempt to beat the clock, I raced to mail my tax return before midnight.
put/turn back the clock also put/turn the clock back
: to return to a condition that existed in the past
▪ This new decision has effectively turned back the clock on 20 years of progress. ▪ I wish that we could turn back the clock and start all over again.
▪ This new decision has effectively turned back the clock on 20 years of progress. ▪ I wish that we could turn back the clock and start all over again.
