horology
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of horology
1810–20; < Greek hōro- (combining form of hṓra hour ) + -logy
Explanation
Horology is the scientific study of time. Specifically, horology involves the measurement of time and the making of clocks. You need a small leap of imagination to see hour in horology, but if you do, you've pretty much nailed the meaning: it refers to the study of time and the art of making timepieces. In horology, time is studied scientifically, just as a geologist studies the earth and a biologist studies life. Horology is very practical, since it involves the design and construction of clocks, watches, and other devices for measuring time. Someone who studies horology is a horologist.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Among those 100 watches were 10 that Shapiro made for Collective Horology, a Ventura company.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2023
My copy of Antiquarian Horology, purchased on EBay for $9, wore its five decades well.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2021
The current issue of the magazine Antiquarian Horology dropped through my letterbox this week .
From BBC • Sep. 27, 2014
This you can confirm by any history of Horology.
From Tales of the Chesapeake by Townsend, George Alfred
The cylinder escape wheel in all modern watches has fifteen teeth, although Saunier, in his "Modern Horology," delineates a twelve-tooth wheel for apparently no better reason than because it was more easily drawn.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
