quarter-bell

The quarter-bell chimes every fifteen minutes from the clock tower.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bell that sounds at intervals of fifteen minutes, typically as part of a clock or tower mechanism. It marks each quarter-hour with a distinctive chime.

Usage Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to strike the quarter-bell": to sound the bell at the quarter-hour.
  • The mechanism strikes the quarter-bell precisely at 12:15, 12:30, and 12:45.
• "quarter-bell chime": the specific musical tone or sequence produced by such a bell.
  • The quarter-bell chime is a series of four notes, repeated for each quarter.

Variants and Related Words

• Quarter-hour (n): a period of fifteen minutes.
  • The clock chimes on the quarter-hour. (It sounds every fifteen minutes.)
• Bell (n): a hollow metal object that produces a ringing sound when struck.
  • The quarter-bell is a smaller bell compared to the main hour bell.

Synonyms

• Fifteen-minute bell: a bell that marks a fifteen-minute interval.
• Chime bell: a bell used in a clock to produce musical notes.

Related Idioms

• "to hear the quarter-bell": to be reminded of the passage of time (figuratively).
  • As he worked late into the night, he heard the quarter-bell and knew it was time to rest. (He was reminded of the late hour.)