timer

American  

[tahy-mer] / ˈtaɪ mər /

noun

1. a person or thing that times. times.

2. a person who measures or records time. times.

3. a device for indicating or measuring elapsed time, times, as a stopwatch.

4. a device for controlling machinery, appliances, or the like, in a specified way at a predetermined time: times.

   Please put the roast in the oven and set the timer to cook it for two hours.

5. (in an internal-combustion engine) a set of points actuated by a cam, which causes the spark for igniting the charge at the instant required.

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timer British  

/ ˈtaɪmə /

noun

1. a device for measuring, recording, or indicating time

2. a switch or regulator that causes a mechanism to operate at a specific time or at predetermined intervals

3. a person or thing that times

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Etymology

Origin of timer

First recorded in 1490–1500; time + -er ¹

Example Sentences

In contrast, stock and gold market timers are quite optimistic — even to the point of irrational exuberance.

From MarketWatch

One easy tactic: Decide how much time you want to spend on screens in advance, then set a timer.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Speaking to neighbours in advance or using a timer to switch lights off at unsociable hours can help avoid problems," lawyer Denise Nurse told the BBC's Morning Live.

From BBC

Market timers will need to look elsewhere for clues.

From MarketWatch

But the market timer might also have returned to the stock market well after its recovery had started.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• timepiece
• wristwatch