timepiece

Everyday

A clock or watch; any instrument for measuring time. tree →

In the lessons

A slightly formal or old word for clocks and watches. In Alice in Wonderland the White Rabbit takes a watch out of his waistcoat pocket, and the Mad Hatter's watch tells the day of the month, not the hour. In science, sundials, hourglasses and water clocks are early timepieces. Phrase: in shops and adverts «a fine timepiece».

Examples

• Grandad's gold timepiece still ticks. tree →
• The White Rabbit looked at his timepiece and ran. tree →
• A sundial is an ancient timepiece. tree →
• The museum shows timepieces from long ago. tree →
• The Hatter's timepiece told the day, not the hour. tree →
• Ships needed a very accurate timepiece to find their way. tree →

Note

Countable noun, plural «timepieces». Everyday words: clock, watch.