clench clenches, clenching, clenched
VERB 1 When you clench your fist, you curl your fingers up tightly.
2 When you clench your teeth, you squeeze them together tightly, either in pain or in anger.
clerk clerks
NOUN a person who keeps records or accounts in an office, bank or law court
clever cleverer, cleverest
ADJECTIVE 1 intelligent and quick to understand things
SYNONYMS: bright, intelligent, smart
2 very effective or skilful • We came up with a clever plan.
cliché clichés
NOUN an idea or phrase that is no longer effective because it has been used so much. For example, in this day and age and over the moon.
click clicks, clicking, clicked
VERB 1 When something clicks or when you click it, it makes a short snapping sound.
NOUN 2 a sound of something clicking
client clients
NOUN someone who pays a professional person or company for a service
cliff cliffs
NOUN a high area of land with a very steep side, usually next to the sea
cliffhanger cliffhangers
NOUN a very exciting or frightening situation, usually in a television or radio serial, where you are left not knowing what is going to happen next
climate climates
NOUN the general weather conditions that are typical of a place
climax climaxes
NOUN the most exciting moment of something, usually near the end
climb climbs, climbing, climbed
VERB 1 If you climb something, such as a tree, mountain or ladder, you move towards the top of it.
2 If you climb somewhere, you move there with difficulty. • We climbed over the high wall.
NOUN 3 a movement upwards • I was tired after the long climb to the top of the hill.
climber NOUN
cling clings, clinging, clung
VERB If you cling to something, you hold on to it tightly.
clinic clinics
NOUN a place where people go for medical advice or treatment
clip clips, clipping, clipped
NOUN 1 a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together
2 a short piece of a film shown by itself
VERB 3 If you clip something, you cut bits from it to shape it.
clipboard clipboards
NOUN a stiff piece of board or plastic, with a clip at the top to keep papers in place
clippers
PLURAL NOUN a tool used for cutting • hedge clippers
cloak cloaks, cloaking, cloaked
NOUN 1 a wide, loose coat without sleeves
VERB 2 If something cloaks something else, it covers or hides it. • The mist cloaked the land.
cloakroom cloakrooms
NOUN 1 a room where you can leave coats and luggage for a while
2 a room with toilets and washbasins in a public building
clock clocks
NOUN an instrument that measures and shows the time
clockwise
ADVERB in the same direction as the hands on a clock
clockwork
NOUN 1 Toys that move by clockwork are wound up with a key.
PHRASE 2 If something goes like clockwork, it happens with no problems or delays.
clog clogs, clogging, clogged
VERB 1 When something is clogged, or when you clog something up, it becomes blocked and doesn’t work properly or doesn’t allow things to move freely. • The traffic was clogging the roads.
NOUN 2 a shoe made entirely of wood, originally from the Netherlands
clone clones
NOUN an animal or plant that is an identical copy of another animal or plant
close closes, closing, closed; closer, closest
Said “klohz” VERB 1 If you close something, you move it so that it is no longer open. • He closed the door behind him.
2 If a shop or other building closes at a certain time, it does not do business after that time.
Said “klohss” ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is close to something else is near to it.
SYNONYMS: near, nearby
4 People who are close are very friendly with each other and know each other well.
5 If the weather is close, it is uncomfortably warm and stuffy.
NOUN 6 a street that is closed at one end • We live in Park Close.
closely ADVERB
close-up close-ups
Said “klohss-up” NOUN A close-up in a film or a photograph is taken at very close range and shows things in great detail.
cloth cloths
NOUN 1 fabric made by a process such as weaving
2 a piece of material used for wiping or protecting things
clothes
PLURAL NOUN things people wear on their bodies
cloud clouds
NOUN 1 a mass of water vapour that is seen as a white or grey patch in the sky
2 A cloud of smoke or dust is a mass of it floating in the air.
cloudy cloudier, cloudiest
