chronograph

American  

[kron-uh-graf, -grahf] / ˈkrɒn əˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf /

noun

1. a timepiece fitted with a recording device, as a stylus and rotating drum, used to mark the exact instant of an occurrence, especially in astronomy.

2. a timepiece capable of measuring extremely brief intervals of time accurately, as a stopwatch able to record fractions of a second as well as elapsed time.

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verb (used with object)

1. to time by means of a chronograph.

chronograph British  

/ krəˈnɒɡrəfə, -ˌɡræf, ˈkrəʊnə-, ˌkrɒnəˈɡræfɪk, ˈkrɒnəˌɡrɑːf /

noun

1. an accurate instrument for recording small intervals of time

2. any timepiece, esp a wristwatch designed for maximum accuracy

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Other Word Forms

• chronographer noun
• chronographic adjective
• chronographically adverb
• chronography noun

Etymology

Origin of chronograph

First recorded in 1655–65; chrono- + -graph

Example Sentences

Launched in 1941, it was the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph.

From Barron's • Nov. 9, 2025

Another inspires a short rhapsody detailing the six-figure worth of a Richard Mille Felipe Massa automatic chronograph with a rose gold skeleton and a flyback function.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2025

I consistently saw all three blasters exceeding 100 feet per second on my chronograph, with the Rush-40 and Siege-50 regularly crossing the 115 feet per second mark.

From The Verge • Sep. 8, 2021

The Nautilus 5980, a rose gold chronograph sports watch from Patek Philippe that has a retail price of $85,000, can seldom be found on 47th Street for much less than $200,000.

From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2021

She was wearing a wristwatch, a military-looking one that looked rather like a navigator’s chronograph.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• timer