Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tower with a large clock: A tall, often freestanding structure, typically part of a public building like a town hall, railway station, or church, featuring a large clock mounted high on its exterior so it can be seen from a distance.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The old clock tower in the town square chimes every hour.
  • We could see the clock tower from our hotel window.
  • The university's iconic clock tower is a popular meeting spot.

Advanced Usage

• "to beat the clock tower": To finish a task or arrive at a location just before the clock in the tower strikes a certain hour, often used in a historical or literary context.
  • In the story, the hero had to beat the clock tower and return before midnight.

Variants and Related Words

• Clock (n): The timekeeping device itself.
• Tower (n): A tall, narrow building or structure.
• Bell tower (n): A tower containing one or more bells, often but not always also housing a clock.
• Watchtower (n): A tower used for observation, distinct from a clock tower.

Synonyms

• Time tower: A less common synonym.
• Campanile: An Italian word for a bell tower, which often includes a clock.

Related Phrases

• Against the clock: Rushing to finish before a deadline (idiom related to timekeeping, not specific to the structure).
  • We were working against the clock to complete the project.

Related Idioms

• Like Big Ben: Referring to something very prominent or reliable, derived from the famous clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London.
  • His punctuality is like Big Ben; you can set your watch by him.

Noun

1. a tower with a large clock visible high up on an outside face