View synonyms for sundial

sundial

[ suhn-dahy-uhl, -dahyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an instrument that indicates the time of day by means of the position, on a graduated plate or surface, of the shadow of the gnomon as it is cast by the sun.

sundial

/ ˈsʌnˌdaɪəl /

a device indicating the time during the hours of sunlight by means of a stationary arm (the gnomon ) that casts a shadow onto a plate or surface marked in hours

Origin of sundial¹

First recorded in 1570–80; sun + dial

He has been accused of slow and ugly throwing mechanics (one sports writer said you could time his release with a sundial).

Our next quest was for a sundial plate, but it was a vain search, for not a store in town carried such an article.

The grape arbour along the west side of the sundial lawn was also built, of plain chestnut.

“This is no time for bad puns,” she answered, dragging me swiftly down through the orchard, and up again to the sundial.

Then it whitened the sundial lawn, reminding us to take the wooden dial post in for the winter.

Beside, a sundial is not a portable instrument, and Joshua and his men had something more pressing to do than to loiter round it.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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