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Hourglass: meaning, definitions and examples

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hourglass

[ ˈaʊərɡlæs ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

time measurement

An hourglass is a device used to measure the passage of time. It consists of two glass bulbs connected vertically by a narrow neck that allows a regulated flow of a substance (such as sand) from the upper bulb to the lower one. The amount of time elapsed is determined by the amount of substance that has flowed through the neck.

Synonyms

egg timer, sand clock.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
hourglass	Commonly used to represent the passage of time, often in artistic or metaphorical contexts. The old painting featured an hourglass on the table, symbolizing the fleeting nature of time
sand clock	Less commonly used and often considered a layman's term for hourglass, typically in everyday conversation. I watched the sand slowly fall through the sand clock while waiting
egg timer	Typically used in cooking to measure short periods, especially for boiling eggs. Set the egg timer for 5 minutes to get the perfect soft-boiled eggs

Word

Description / Examples

hourglass

Commonly used to represent the passage of time, often in artistic or metaphorical contexts.

The old painting featured an hourglass on the table, symbolizing the fleeting nature of time

sand clock

Less commonly used and often considered a layman's term for hourglass, typically in everyday conversation.

I watched the sand slowly fall through the sand clock while waiting

egg timer

Typically used in cooking to measure short periods, especially for boiling eggs.

Set the egg timer for 5 minutes to get the perfect soft-boiled eggs

Examples of usage

The hourglass on the desk indicated that the meeting was about to end.
She watched the sand trickle down in the hourglass, marking each passing minute.

Translations

Translations of the word "hourglass" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ampulheta

🇮🇳 रेतघड़ी

🇩🇪 Sanduhr

🇮🇩 jam pasir

🇺🇦 пісочний годинник

🇵🇱 klepsydra

🇯🇵 砂時計 (すなどけい)

🇫🇷 sablier

🇪🇸 reloj de arena

🇹🇷 kum saati

🇰🇷 모래시계

🇸🇦 ساعة رملية

🇨🇿 přesýpací hodiny

🇸🇰 presýpacie hodiny

🇨🇳 沙漏

🇸🇮 peščena ura

🇮🇸 stundaglas

🇰🇿 құм сағат

🇬🇪 საათის ქვიშა

🇦🇿 qum saatı

🇲🇽 reloj de arena

Etymology

The hourglass, also known as a sand clock, is believed to have been invented in Alexandria, Egypt around the 3rd century AD. It was an early form of timekeeping before the invention of mechanical clocks. Hourglasses were used on ships, in churches, and in homes to measure time accurately. The hourglass symbolizes the passage of time and has been a popular motif in art and literature throughout history.