Definition

Noun: A tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with its mechanism enclosed within a narrow wooden case. The case typically consists of a hood that houses the dial and movement, a long narrow body that conceals the pendulum and weights, and a base. It is also commonly known as a grandfather clock.

Usage and Examples

This term refers specifically to the complete clock as a single object. * The antique longcase clock in the hallway chimes every hour. * Collectors value an original 18th-century longcase clock for its craftsmanship. * The longcase clock stopped because the weights needed to be wound.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in horology (the study of timekeeping) and antique collecting to describe this specific style of clock formally.
• While "longcase clock" is the precise technical term, "grandfather clock" is the more common name in everyday English.

Variants and Related Words

• Grandfather clock: The common, synonymous term for a longcase clock.
• Tall-case clock: Another, less common synonym.
• Pendulum clock: A broader category of clocks that use a pendulum to regulate time, which includes longcase clocks.
• Hood: The top section of the case that houses the clock face and movement.
• Trunk: The long, central body of the case.
• Base: The bottom section of the case.

Synonyms

• Grandfather clock
• Tall-case clock
• Floor clock (a more modern, general term for a tall standing clock)

Notes on Meaning

The definition refers specifically to the complete clock. The term does not describe just the case alone, nor does it refer to a different type of clock like a bracket clock or a wall clock. Its primary meaning is the iconic, tall, freestanding pendulum clock.

Noun

1. a pendulum clock enclosed in a tall narrow case