clockwise

Everyday

1. Clockwise means moving round in the same direction as the hands of a clock: from the top to the right, down, to the left and back up. tree →
2. The opposite is anticlockwise (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) or counterclockwise (US, Canada). tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons, pupils turn shapes clockwise or anticlockwise by quarter turns (90°), half turns (180°) and three-quarter turns (270°), and give directions on grids. In everyday life, you usually turn a screw or jar lid clockwise to tighten it («righty-tighty, lefty-loosey»). In PE and games, players may pass round a circle clockwise. Phrases: «turn clockwise», «a quarter turn clockwise», «clockwise direction».

Examples

• Turn the shape a quarter turn clockwise. tree →
• The children walked clockwise round the circle. tree →
• Turn the lid clockwise to close the jar. tree →
• If you face north and turn 90° clockwise, you face east. tree →
• The hands of a clock always move clockwise. tree →
• Stir the mixture clockwise, then the other way. tree →

Note

One word. In maths: a full turn is 360°, so a turn of 90° clockwise is the same as 270° anticlockwise. Facing north: a quarter turn clockwise → east; half turn → south; three-quarter turn → west.