sundial

[ suhn-dahy-uhl, -dahyl ]

noun

1. 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 /

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sundial¹

First recorded in 1570–80; sun + dial

Example Sentences

For people with young children, beach tents provide consistent and reliable beach shade—you won’t have to keep moving your umbrella like a sundial throughout the day to keep everyone covered.

From Popular-Science

It’s amazing to use the stars spinning overhead during the winter as a sundial, where by the position of stars you know what time of day or night it is.

From Nautilus

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• timer