sundial

American  

[suhn-dahy-uhl, -dahyl] / ˈsʌnˌdaɪ əl, -ˌdaɪl /

noun

• sundials
  plural

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.

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sundial British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sundials
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sundial

First recorded in 1570–80; sun + dial

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sundial sundials

Adorned with decorative finials, it looms, in a certain light, like an enormous sundial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

You’re watching a ticker that moves like a sundial.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 12, 2025

The name gujeolpan refers to nine ingredients on a plate, with eight colorful vegetables or proteins sliced thinly and arrayed around the edge of plate, much like a mouth-watering sundial.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025

Only 28% said they preferred the sundial shuffle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2025

"We got a lot of sticks. We could have a sundial each. Then we should know what the time was."

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

Cross the orbit of 6446 Lomberg, the asteroid named in honor of his contributions to science, and sail by Mars, where the Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity rovers bear sundials he helped design.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2023

For instance, Grant County operated entirely by a system of sundials and groundhogs; in Pulaski County it was just 7:45 p.m. all the time.

From Golf Digest ● Nov. 2, 2017

Mr. McLemore’s passion for sundials and timepieces, and his staggering talent in building and repairing them, was central to the story.

From New York Times ● Aug. 11, 2017

This is the kind of time indicated by sundials, and it probably represents the earliest measure of time used by ancient civilizations.

From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016

They did not have mechanical clocks, but they had sundials and water clocks.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• timer