gnomon
Use Gnomon in a sentence
mɒn noun
1.
the raised part of a sundial that casts the shadow; a style. See illus. under sundial.
2.
an early astronomical instrument consisting of a vertical shaft, column, or the like, for determining the altitude of the sun or the latitude of a position by measuring the length of its shadow cast at noon.
3.
Geometry. (formerly) the part of a parallelogram that remains after a similar parallelogram has been taken away from one of its corners.
Origin:
1540–50; < Latin gnōmōn pin of a sundial < Greek gnṓmōn literally, interpreter, discerner
1540–50; < Latin gnōmōn pin of a sundial < Greek gnṓmōn literally, interpreter, discerner
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To gnomon
Collins
World English Dictionary
gnomon (ˈnəʊmɒn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the stationary arm that projects the shadow on a sundial |
| 2. | a geometric figure remaining after a parallelogram has been removed from one corner of a larger parallelogram |
| [C16: from Latin, from Greek: interpreter, from gignōskein to know] | |
| gno'monic | |
| —adj | |
| gno'monically | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Gnomon
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
gnomon
"pillar that tells time by the shadow it casts, esp. on a sundial," 1546, from L. gnomon, from Gk. gnomon "indicator," lit. "one who discerns," from gignoskein "to come to know" (see gnostic).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The gnomon is simply a straight pole, set vertically in a flat, level patch of ground open to the sun's rays.
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