English Explanatory Dictionary

clause

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A group of words that contains a subject and a verb; it may be part of a sentence or may constitute the whole sentence, depending on the syntax in each instance.
  2. A verb, its necessary grammatical arguments, and any adjuncts affecting them.
  3. A verb along with its subject and their modifiers. If a clause provides a complete thought on its own, then it is an independent (superordinate) clause; otherwise, it is dependent (subordinate). (Independent clauses can be sentences; they can also be part of a sentence. Dependent clauses can only be part of a sentence.)
  4. A distinct part of a contract, a will or another legal document.
  5. A constituent (component) of a statement or query.
verb
  1. To amend (a bill of lading or similar document).
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/klɔːz/ /klɔz/ /klɑz/ en-us-clause.ogg

Word forms

clause clauses clausing claused

Etymology

From Middle English clause, claus, borrowed from Old French clause, from Medieval Latin clausa (Latin diminutive clausula (“close, end; a clause, close of a period”)), from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere (“to shut, close”). See close, its doublet.

Synonyms

sentential sentence

Related words

close

Derived words

acceleration clause adjectival clause attestation clause attributive clause break clause choice of forum clause clausehood clauselike cognovit clause conscience clause definite clause derogatory clause escalator clause escape clause essential clause establishment clause exit clause final clause forum clause forum selection clause free-exercise clause get-out clause grandfather clause guillotine clause Henry VIII clause Horn clause in terrorem clause jurisdiction clause matrix clause Mother Hubbard clause multiclause negative clause no-contest clause no-trade clause notwithstanding clause objective clause objects clause operative clause pedigree clause residuary clause salvo clause semiclause small clause spendthrift clause subject clause sunrise clause sunset clause supplementive clause testing clause that clause time clause weasel clause 3-clause clausal clause element clause function content clause subclause

Translations

Arabic: مُرَكَّبٌ إِسْنَادِيّ Bulgarian: подчинено изречение Chinese Mandarin: 從句 /从句 Czech: věta Dutch: bijzin Finnish: lause French: proposition German: Nebensatz Hebrew: פסוקית Hungarian: mellékmondat Irish: clásal Italian: proposizione Japanese: 節 Mongolian: гишүүн өгүүлбэр Persian: فراکرد Polish: zdanie składowe Portuguese: oração Scottish Gaelic: clàs Tagalog: sugnay Vietnamese: vế câu Vietnamese: mệnh đề Welsh: cymal
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