1
a pair of clippers
clippers 常用复数形式，指由两刃组成的工具。
I need a pair of clippers to trim the hedge.
我需要一把修枝剪来修剪树篱。
理发剪；指甲剪
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
理发剪；指甲剪
scissors for cutting hair or fingernails, usually used in the plural
I need a pair of clippers to trim the hedge.
我需要一把修枝剪来修剪树篱。
常以复数形式 clippers 出现
用于剪切的物品或剪切的人。
Anything or anyone that clips.
用于剪切头发、硬币或指甲等的工具。
A tool used for clipping something, such as hair, coins, or fingernails.
快速移动的事物；尤指:
Something that moves swiftly; especially:
蛱蝶科Parthenos sylvia的一种亚洲蝴蝶。
An Asian butterfly of species Parthenos sylvia, family Nymphalidae.
I always keep a pair of nail clippers in my backpack for emergencies.
我总是在背包里放一把指甲剪，以备不时之需。
The barber picked up the hair clippers and started trimming the sides.
理发师拿起理发推子，开始修剪两鬓。
I need to buy some new clippers because this old pair no longer cuts cleanly.
我需要买一把新指甲剪，因为这把旧的已经剪不干净了。
clippers 常用复数形式，指由两刃组成的工具。
I need a pair of clippers to trim the hedge.
我需要一把修枝剪来修剪树篱。
指甲剪通常以复数形式 clippers 出现。
These nail clippers are sharp.
这把指甲剪很锋利。
clipper 在这里指旧时的高速帆船。
The clipper ship sailed from London to China in record time.
这艘快速帆船以创纪录的时间从伦敦航行到中国。
Not this
I bought a clipper to cut my hair.
Use this
I bought a pair of clippers to cut my hair.
clipper 表示理发剪、指甲剪等成对使用的工具时，习惯用复数 clippers，并常说 a pair of clippers；用单数 a clipper 通常会被理解成‘快速帆船’或单个刀片。改为 a pair of clippers 后，既保留原意，也符合该名词的常见搭配。
Not this
That old clippers sailed across the ocean.
Use this
That old clipper sailed across the ocean.
clipper 作‘快速帆船’讲时是可数名词，单数形式就是 clipper，不能在指一艘船时写成 clippers；clippers 是剪具的复数形式。把 clippers 改成 clipper，并搭配单数限定词 that，句子才符合单数名词的用法。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
快速帆船
The museum displays a model of a 19th-century clipper ship.
博物馆展出一艘19世纪快速帆船的模型。
理发推子
My father still uses his old hair clippers at home.
我父亲还在家用他的旧理发推子。
指甲剪
She keeps a set of nail clippers in her bag.
她包里总放着一套指甲剪。
胡须修剪器
He uses beard clippers to keep his beard tidy.
他用胡须修剪器保持胡子整洁。
绿篱剪；修枝剪
I need a new pair of hedge clippers to trim the bushes.
我需要一把新的绿篱剪来修剪灌木。
Use clipper naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：clip 有“剪”意，-er 表示工具，所以 clipper 是剪刀/理发剪；快速帆船像剪开浪花一样疾驰，也叫 clipper。
语域：mixed 常见场景：hair salon or home grooming、gardening and yard work、historical writing about sailing ships 该词在不同语域中有明显差异：作为修剪工具（通常用复数 clippers）多用于日常中性语境；而“快速帆船”义比较常见于历史或航海题材的书面语。
作剪刀、指甲剪、修枝剪等工具解时常用复数 clippers；作快速帆船解时为可数名词。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.