paper clip
Definition
Noun: A small, usually metal, device made of bent wire or molded plastic, designed to hold a few sheets of paper together by clamping them without puncturing or damaging them.
Usage
The term "paper clip" refers specifically to the fastening device itself. It is a count noun (e.g., a paper clip, three paper clips). It is used to describe the object's function of temporarily binding papers.
Examples
- Please use a paper clip to keep these documents together.
- I found an old memo attached with a rusty paper clip.
- The standard paper clip is made from a single piece of bent steel wire.
Advanced Usage
- "To paper-clip" (verb, informal/rare): To fasten with a paper clip.
- She paper-clipped the note to the front of the file.
- Figurative use: Can symbolize office work, bureaucracy, or temporary organization.
- Their agreement was held together by little more than a paper clip and a promise.
Variants and Related Words
- Clip (noun): A more general term for any device that holds things together or in place. A paper clip is a specific type of clip.
- Binder clip (noun): A larger, stronger clip with folding handles, used for holding thicker stacks of paper.
- Bulldog clip (noun): A spring-loaded clip with two flat, metal plates, often used for thicker documents.
Synonyms
- Fastener: A general term for any device that fastens things together.
- Clip: The most common direct synonym, though it is broader.
Related Phrases
- Paper clip chain: A series of paper clips linked together, often made for fun or as a makeshift chain.
- The children made a long paper clip chain during their break.
Noun
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a wire or plastic clip for holding sheets of paper together
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the paper clip was invented in 1900
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