Hourglass: meaning, definitions and examples
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hourglass
[ ˈaʊərɡlæs ]
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
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
Word origin
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.