hour-hand

The hour-hand points to the number three on the clock.

Definition

Noun
- The shorter hand on a clock or watch that indicates the current hour.

Usage Examples

• (The hand that shows the hour.)
• (The hand indicating the hour.)

Advanced Usage

• "hour-hand position": a specific location of the hour-hand used as a reference for time.
  • The meeting is scheduled for when the hour-hand is between two and three. (A time around 2:30.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hour (n): a unit of time equal to 60 minutes.

  • There are twenty-four hours in a day. (A period of time.)

• Hand (n): a pointer on a clock or gauge.

  • The minute-hand is longer than the hour-hand. (A pointer indicating minutes.)

Synonyms

• Hour indicator: a device or part that shows the hour.
  • The hour indicator on this watch is gold. (The part that shows the hour.)

Related Idioms

• Watch the hour-hand: to pay close attention to the passage of time.

  • He watched the hour-hand, waiting for the workday to end. (He observed the time carefully.)

• Turn back the hour-hand: to attempt to return to an earlier time or state.

  • You cannot turn back the hour-hand; time moves only forward. (You cannot reverse time.)