Big Ben

American  

noun

1. the bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London, England.

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Big Ben British  

noun

1. the bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, London

2. the clock in this tower

3. the tower

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Big Ben Cultural  

1. The popular name for the huge clock mounted in a tower near the meeting place of the British Parliament in London. Big Ben strikes the quarter-hour with the familiar Westminster chimes.

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Etymology

Origin of Big Ben

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Two weeks before the show, young seamstresses were crocheting floral motifs in mohair and Japanese metallic thread at a south London studio overlooking the Thames river and Big Ben.

From Barron's

Meanwhile, the Met Police has warned people not to try to go to the Mayor of London's fireworks event, centred around the London Eye and Big Ben, as tickets have sold out.

From BBC

But instead of Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, the illustrations showed crystal-blue alpine lakes and edelweiss-covered meadows populated with snow larks, mountain hares, and other wildlife of that Swiss ilk.

From Literature

Afterward: tea and crumpets at an inexpensive café, then a long, looping stroll that would take them past both Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, London Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

From Literature

The Elizabeth Tower is one of London's best-known landmarks and is often known as Big Ben - although that's actually the name of the bell that produces the famous bongs.

From BBC

Related Words

• timer