paperclip

paperclip — noun

1. a small stationery item made of thin metal or plastic, shaped into closed loops

1.nounA2
Definition

a small stationery item made of thin metal or plastic, shaped into closed loops that slide over a stack of pages to keep them together

Example

Kian used a paperclip to keep the pages of his report together.

use a/the paperclip + to-infinitive (purpose)

Theo bent the paperclip into a small hook to fix his glasses.

bend a paperclip into [shape]

Common collocations
  • use a paperclip
  • bend a paperclip
  • attach [X] with a paperclip
  • a paperclip holds [stack] together
  • paperclip scratches; bent paperclip
Synonyms
  • paper clip

    the same object, written as two separate words — more common in formal or older texts

  • clip

    informal shortening; can also refer to other types of clips (hair clip, binder clip)

Grammar Patterns

a [paperclip]

[number] paperclip(s)

Usage Note

Commonly written as two words (paper clip) or as one word (paperclip); both forms are acceptable, though the single-word form is more common in everyday use.

Word family

  • paper clip
    nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Paperclip, paper clip, and clip all refer to the same object but differ in spelling and register: 'paperclip' (one word) is now the most common form in everyday writing; 'paper clip' (two words) is still seen in formal or older texts; and 'clip' alone is a casual shortening. A staple is a piece of metal that pierces the paper and is folded permanently, used when the pages must not come apart. A binder clip has a spring-loaded metal handle and can hold much thicker stacks — you might fasten a short report with a paperclip but use a binder clip for a thick manuscript.

paper clipstaple ↗binder clip

Common collocations

Nouns

  • paperclip; desk; drawer; sheet; stack; document; page; report; essay

Phrases

  • attach [file] with a paperclip
  • hold papers together with a paperclip

Etymology

English

The word 'paperclip' is a compound of 'paper' and 'clip', first recorded in the late 1800s as the office item became widely used. The familiar Gem-style double-loop design was patented in 1899.