club

[ kluhb ]

noun

1. a heavy stick, usually thicker at one end than at the other, suitable for use as a weapon; a cudgel.

   Synonyms: billy, bludgeon

2. a group of persons organized for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose:

   They organized a computer club.

   Synonyms: society, association

3. the building or rooms occupied by such a group.
4. an organization that offers its subscribers certain benefits, as discounts, bonuses, or interest, in return for regular purchases or payments:

   a book club; a record club; a Christmas club.

   Synonyms: society, association

5. Sports.
   1. a stick or bat used to drive a ball in various games, as golf.
   2. Indian club.
6. a nightclub, especially one in which people dance to popular music, drink, and socialize:

   Last night we went to all the clubs in town.

7. a black trefoil-shaped figure on a playing card.
8. a card bearing such figures.
9. clubs, (used with a singular or plural verb) the suit so marked:

   Clubs is trump. Clubs are trump.

10. club sandwich.
11. Nautical.
    1. a short spar attached to the end of a gaff to allow the clew of a gaff topsail to extend beyond the peak of the gaff.
    2. a short spar attached to the truck of a mast to support the upper part of a club topsail.
    3. clubfoot ( def 3 ).

verb (used with object)

, clubbed, club·bing.

1. to beat with or as with a club.

   Synonyms: cudgel, maul, batter, bludgeon

2. to gather or form into a clublike mass.
3. to unite; combine; join together.
4. to contribute as one's share toward a joint expense; make up by joint contribution (often followed by up or together ):

   They clubbed their dollars together to buy the expensive present.

5. to defray by proportional shares.
6. to hold (a rifle, shotgun, etc.) by the barrel, so as to use the stock as a club.

verb (used without object)

, clubbed, club·bing.

1. Informal. to go to nightclubs, especially to dance, drink, and socialize:

   The students at that university go clubbing every Friday night.

2. to combine or join together, as for a common purpose.
3. to attend a club or a club's activities.
4. to gather into a mass.
5. to contribute to a common fund.
6. Nautical. to drift in a current with an anchor, usually rigged with a spring, dragging or dangling to reduce speed.

adjective

1. of or relating to a club.
2. consisting of a combination of foods offered at the price set on the menu:

   They allow no substitutions on the club luncheon.

club

/ klʌb /

noun

1. a stout stick, usually with one end thicker than the other, esp one used as a weapon
2. a stick or bat used to strike the ball in various sports, esp golf See golf club
3. short for Indian club
4. a group or association of people with common aims or interests

   a wine club

5. 1. the room, building, or facilities used by such a group
   2. ( in combination )

      clubhouse

6. a building in which elected, fee-paying members go to meet, dine, read, etc
7. a commercial establishment in which people can drink and dance; disco See also nightclub
8. an organization, esp in a shop, set up as a means of saving
9. an informal word for friendly society
10. 1. the black trefoil symbol on a playing card
    2. a card with one or more of these symbols or ( when pl ) the suit of cards so marked
11. nautical
    1. a spar used for extending the clew of a gaff topsail beyond the peak of the gaff
    2. short for club foot
12. in the club slang.
    pregnant
13. on the club slang.
    away from work due to sickness, esp when receiving sickness benefit

verb

1. tr to beat with or as if with a club
2. often foll by together to gather or become gathered into a group
3. often foll by together to unite or combine (resources, efforts, etc) for a common purpose
4. tr to use (a rifle or similar firearm) as a weapon by holding the barrel and hitting with the butt
5. intr nautical to drift in a current, reducing speed by dragging anchor

Derived Forms

• ˈclubbing, noun

Other Words From

• inter·club adjective
• super·club noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of club¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English clubbe, from Old Norse klubba; akin to clump

Word History and Origins

Origin of club¹

C13: from Old Norse klubba, related to Middle High German klumpe group of trees, clump , Old English clympre lump of metal

Idioms and Phrases

see join the club .

Synonym Study

See circle.

Example Sentences

Yuan revealed he has faced similar incidents filming at English clubs.

From BBC

He has been linked with MLS expansion club San Diego but City sources have ruled out the possibility of De Bruyne leaving in January for the start of the US domestic season.

From BBC

At a recent book club meeting, her fellow group members were willing to let her vent about politics for five minutes, but they weren’t interested in discussing ways they could counteract the incoming president.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s a big part of this club’s soul.

From Los Angeles Times

Other interventions offered included free breakfast clubs, access to key workers and catch-up sessions.

From BBC

Related Words

• bash
• bludgeon
• clobber
• pummel
• whack