elapse

Everyday

(formal) Of time: to pass by. tree →

In the lessons

Common in maths time problems: "elapsed time" is how much time has passed between a start and an end. In exams: "How much time has elapsed?" Phrases: elapsed time, time elapsed.

Examples

• Three hours elapsed before help arrived. tree →
• Find the elapsed time from 10:20 to 11:05. It is 45 minutes. tree →
• A week elapsed and still no letter came. tree →
• Ten minutes had elapsed when the bell rang. tree →
• Use a clock to work out the elapsed time. tree →
• Weeks elapsed before the plant flowered. tree →

Note

Only used about time. Maths: elapsed time = end time − start time; count on in hours and minutes (60 minutes = 1 hour). Not to be confused with "lapse" (a small mistake or an ending).