stop-watch

The runner uses a stop-watch to time his sprint.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A timer that measures elapsed time: A "stop-watch" is a handheld timepiece designed to measure the amount of time that passes from its activation to its deactivation, typically used in timing sporting events, races, or scientific experiments.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The coach used a stop-watch to time the athletes during the 100-meter sprint. (A handheld timer measured the duration of the race.)
  • She pressed the button on her stop-watch to start timing the experiment. (She activated the timer to begin measuring elapsed time.)

Advanced Usage

• "Digital stop-watch": a modern type of stop-watch that uses an electronic display instead of an analog dial.

  • The digital stop-watch showed the time to the nearest hundredth of a second. (The electronic timer displayed very precise measurements.)

• "Stop-watch accuracy": the precision with which a stop-watch can measure time, often to fractions of a second.

  • For laboratory tests, stop-watch accuracy is essential. (Precise timing is crucial.)

Variants and Related Words

• Stopwatch (n): a common alternative spelling of "stop-watch" (often written as one word).

  • He checked his stopwatch after the lap. (He looked at his timer.)

• Timing device (n): a general term for any instrument that measures time, including a stop-watch.

  • A stop-watch is a simple timing device. (It is a basic timer.)

Synonyms

• Timer: a device that measures and records time.
• Chronometer: a precise timekeeping instrument (often used in navigation or science, but can refer to a stop-watch in casual contexts).

Related Idioms

• "Under the stop-watch": referring to an activity that is timed precisely.
  • The test was conducted under the stop-watch, so every second counted. (The activity was timed carefully.)