hour-glass

A teacher uses an hour-glass to time a short classroom activity.

Definition

Noun: - A timekeeping device consisting of two glass bulbs connected vertically by a narrow neck, with a quantity of sand that flows from the upper bulb to the lower bulb in a fixed period of time, typically one hour. - Figuratively, something that has the shape or function of an hourglass, such as a silhouette or a measure of time.

Usage Examples

• (The sand flows for exactly one hour.)
• (A body shape resembling the device's silhouette.)
• (The allotted time expired.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hour-glass figure": a common phrase describing a woman's body shape with a well-defined, narrow waist and proportionate bust and hips.
  • The fashion industry often idealizes the hour-glass figure. (A specific body proportion.)
• "Hour-glass timer": a modern term for any timer that uses sand flow, regardless of duration.
  • We used a three-minute hour-glass timer for the game. (A sand timer for short intervals.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hourglass (noun, alternative spelling): same as hour-glass.
  • The hourglass is a classic symbol of time's passage. (Same device.)
• Hourglass-shaped (adjective): having the form of an hourglass.
  • The vase was hourglass-shaped, narrow in the middle. (Resembling the device's form.)
• Hourglass syndrome (noun): a condition of lower back pain caused by prolonged sitting, named after the pressure pattern on the spine.
  • Office workers often suffer from hourglass syndrome. (A medical condition.)

Synonyms

• Sand timer: a device that measures time by sand flowing through a narrow opening.
  • The board game came with a sand timer instead of an hour-glass. (Similar function.)
• Timeglass (rare): an old term for an hourglass.
  • The scholar consulted his timeglass. (Archaic synonym.)

Related Idioms

• "Turn the hour-glass": to start a new period of time or begin anew.
  • After the failure, they decided to turn the hour-glass and start over. (Reset the time.)
• "The sands of the hour-glass are running out": time is nearly up; a deadline approaches.
  • With the deadline looming, the sands of the hour-glass are running out. (Time is limited.)

Notes on Usage

• The hyphenated form "hour-glass" is less common in modern English than the closed compound "hourglass," but both are accepted.
• Historically, the hour-glass was a reliable timekeeping device on ships and in churches before mechanical clocks became widespread.