sundial
Definition
Noun: A device that tells the time of day by the position of the sun. It uses a shadow cast by a central rod or plate (called a gnomon) onto a flat surface marked with hours.
Usage
A sundial is used to measure time during daylight hours. It is typically a fixed, decorative object found in gardens or public spaces. - The ancient sundial in the plaza still accurately shows the time on sunny days. - We used a simple sundial to track the hours during our outdoor science lesson.
Advanced Usage
- As a metaphorical reference: The term can be used to symbolize the measurement of time, antiquity, or reliance on natural cycles.
- In the digital age, his meticulous handwritten journals were a sundial in a world of smartwatches.
Variants and Related Words
- Gnomon (noun): The part of a sundial that casts the shadow.
- Dial (noun): The marked, usually flat surface of a sundial that shows the hours.
Synonyms
- Horologe (a formal term for any time-measuring instrument)
- Timepiece (a general term for an instrument that measures time)
Related Phrases
- To read the sundial: To tell the time by observing the shadow on a sundial.
- The gardener taught the children how to read the sundial.
Noun
-
timepiece that indicates the daylight hours by the shadow that the gnomon casts on a calibrated dial
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