time
n
a the continuous passage of existence in which events pass from a state of potentiality in the future, through the present, to a state of finality in the past
b (as modifier)
time travel Related adj →
temporal
2 (Physics) a quantity measuring duration, usually with reference to a periodic process such as the rotation of the earth or the vibration of electromagnetic radiation emitted from certain atoms (see caesium clock, second2 (sense 1)). In classical mechanics, time is absolute in the sense that the time of an event is independent of the observer. According to the theory of relativity it depends on the observer's frame of reference. Time is considered as a fourth coordinate required, along with three spatial coordinates, to specify an event
See →
space-time continuum
3 a specific point on this continuum expressed in terms of hours and minutes
the time is four o'clock
4 a system of reckoning for expressing time
Greenwich mean time
a a definite and measurable portion of this continuum
b (as modifier)
time limit
a an accepted period such as a day, season, etc.
b (in combination)
springtime
7 an unspecified interval; a while
I was there for a time
8 often pl a period or point marked by specific attributes or events
the Victorian times, time for breakfast
9 a sufficient interval or period
have you got time to help me?
10 an instance or occasion
I called you three times
11 an occasion or period of specified quality
have a good time, a miserable time
12 the duration of human existence
13 the heyday of human life
in her time she was a great star
14 a suitable period or moment
it's time I told you
15 the expected interval in which something is done
the flying time from New York to London was seven hours
16 a particularly important moment, esp. childbirth or death
her time had come
17 pl indicating a degree or amount calculated by multiplication with the number specified
ten times three is thirty, he earns four times as much as me
18 often pl the fashions, thought, etc., of the present age (esp. in the phrases ahead of one's time, behind the times)
19 (Brit) (in bars, pubs, etc.) short for →
closing time
20 Informal a term in jail (esp. in the phrase do time)
a a customary or full period of work
b the rate of pay for this period
22 (Also (esp. U.S.))
metre
a the system of combining beats or pulses in music into successive groupings by which the rhythm of the music is established
b a specific system having a specific number of beats in each grouping or bar
duple time
23 (Music) short for →
time value
24 (Prosody) a unit of duration used in the measurement of poetic metre; mora
25 ♦
against time in an effort to complete something in a limited period
26 ♦
ahead of time before the deadline
27 ♦
all in good time in due course
28 ♦
all the time continuously
32 ♦
beat time (of a conductor, etc.) to indicate the tempo or pulse of a piece of music by waving a baton or a hand, tapping out the beats, etc.
33 ♦
before one's time prematurely
34 ♦
for the time being for the moment; temporarily
35 ♦
from time to time at intervals; occasionally
36 ♦
gain time See →
gain 1 →
9
37 ♦
have no time for to have no patience with; not tolerate
39 ♦
in no time very quickly; almost instantaneously
a outside paid working hours
a early or at the appointed time
c (Music) at a correct metrical or rhythmic pulse
42 ♦
keep time to observe correctly the accent or rhythmic pulse of a piece of music in relation to tempo
43 ♦
lose time (of a timepiece) to operate too slowly
44 ♦
lose no time to do something without delay
b often foll by: with (U.S.)
informal to succeed in seducing
47 ♦
in the nick of time at the last possible moment; at the critical moment
a at the expected or scheduled time
b (U.S.) payable in instalments
49 ♦
pass the time of day to exchange casual greetings (with an acquaintance)
50 (Scot) alternately; turn and turn about
51 ♦
time and again frequently
52 ♦
time off a period when one is absent from work for a holiday, through sickness, etc.
53 ♦
time on the Austral. equivalent of →
extra time
54 ♦
time out of mind from time immemorial
55 ♦
time of one's life a memorably enjoyable time
56 modifier operating automatically at or for a set time, for security or convenience
time lock, time switch
vb tr
57 to ascertain or calculate the duration or speed of
59 to adjust to keep accurate time
60 to pick a suitable time for
61 (Sport) to control the execution or speed of (an action, esp. a shot or stroke) so that it has its full effect at the right moment
interj
62 the word called out by a publican signalling that it is closing time (Old English tima; related to Old English tid time, Old Norse timi, Alemannic zime; see tide1)
access time
n (Computing) the time required to retrieve a piece of stored information
African time
n (S. African)
slang unpunctuality
all-time
adj prenominal
Informal unsurpassed in some respect at a particular time
an all-time record
asymmetric time
n musical time consisting of an odd number of beats in each bar divided into uneven combinations, such as 3 + 2, 4 + 3, 2 + 3 + 2, etc.
Atlantic Standard Time
n the local time used in eastern Canada, four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, (Abbrev.)
AST
big time
n
Informal
a the. the highest or most profitable level of an occupation or profession, esp. the entertainment business
b (as modifier)
a big-time comedian
♦
big-timer n
British Standard Time
n the standard time used in Britain all the year round from 1968 to 1971, set one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and equalling Central European Time
British Summer Time
n time set one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time: used in Britain from the end of March to the end of October, providing an extra hour of daylight in the evening, (Abbrev)
BST Compare →
daylight-saving time
Central European Time
n the standard time adopted by Western European countries one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, corresponding to British Summer Time, (Abbrev.)
CET
Central Standard Time
n one of the standard times used in North America, based on the local time of the 90° meridian, six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, (Abbrev.)
CST
closing time
n the time at which pubs must legally stop selling alcoholic drinks
common time
n (Music) a time signature indicating four crotchet beats to the bar; four-four time., (Symbol)
C
compound time
n See →
compound →
16
core time
n See →
flexitime
daylight-saving time
n time set usually one hour ahead of the local standard time, widely adopted in the summer to provide extra daylight in the evening, (Also called (in the U.S.))
daylight time (See also)
→
British Summer Time
dead time
n (Electronics) the interval of time immediately following a stimulus, during which an electrical device, component, etc., is insensitive to a further stimulus
double time
n
1 a doubled wage rate, paid for working on public holidays, etc.
a a time twice as fast as an earlier section
3 a slow running pace, keeping in step
4 (U.S. army) a fast march of 180 paces to the minute
vb
♦
double-time
5 to move or cause to move in double time
drinking-up time
n (in Britain) a short time allowed for finishing drinks before closing time in a public house
drive-time
n
a the time of day when many people are driving to or from work, regarded as a broadcasting slot
b (as modifier)
the daily drive-time show
duple time
n musical time with two beats in each bar
Eastern Standard Time
n one of the standard times used in North America, five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, (Abbrev.)
EST
ephemeris time
n time that is based on the orbit of the earth around the sun rather than the axial rotation of the earth, one ephemeris second being 1/31556925.9747 of the tropical year 1900. It was used from 1960 to 1983 as an astronomical timescale but has been replaced by terrestrial dynamical time and barycentric dynamic time
See →
TDT →
TDB
equation of time
n the difference between apparent solar time and mean solar time, being at a maximum in February (over 14 minutes) and November (over 16 minutes)
extra time
n (Sport) an additional period played at the end of a match, to compensate for time lost through injury or (in certain circumstances) to allow the teams to achieve a conclusive result
Father Time
n time personified as an old bearded man, usually carrying a scythe and an hourglass
four-four time
n (Music) a form of simple quadruple time in which there are four crotchets to the bar, indicated by the time signature <time44>, (Often shortened to)
four-four (Also called)
common time
full time
n the end of a football or other match
Compare →
half-time
full-time
adj
1 for the entire time appropriate to an activity
a full-time job, a full-time student
adv
♦
full time
2 on a full-time basis
he works full time (Compare)
→
part-time
♦
full-timer n
glide time
n the New Zealand term for →
flexitime
good-time
adj (of a person) wildly seeking pleasure
Greenwich Mean Time , Greenwich Time
n mean solar time on the 0° meridian passing through Greenwich, England, measured from midnight: formerly a standard time in Britain and a basis for calculating times throughout most of the world, it has been replaced by an atomic timescale
See →
universal time (Abbrev.)
GMT
The name Greenwich mean time is ambiguous, having been measured from mean midday in astronomy up to 1925, and is not used for scientific purposes. It is generally and incorrectly used in the sense of coordinated universal time, an atomic timescale available since 1972 from broadcast signals, in addition to the earliest sense of universal time, adopted internationally in 1928 as the name for GMT measured from midnight
half-time
n (Sport)
a a rest period between the two halves of a game
b (as modifier)
the half-time score
high time Informal
adv
1 the latest possible time; a time that is almost too late
it's high time you mended this shelf
n
2 (Also called)
high old time an enjoyable and exciting time
idle time
n (Commerce) time during which a machine or a worker could be working but is not, as when one job has been completed and tooling or materials for the next are not complete or available
Compare →
downtime
injury time
n (Soccer, rugby, etc.) extra playing time added on to compensate for time spent attending to injured players during the match, (Also called)
stoppage time
International Atomic Time
n the scientific standard of time based on the SI unit, the second, used by means of atomic clocks and satellites to synchronize the time standards of the major nations, (Abbrev.)
TAI
just-in-time
adj denoting or relating to an industrial method in which waste of resources is eliminated or reduced by producing production-line components, etc., as they are required, rather than holding large stocks, (Abbrev.)
JIT
kill-time
n
a an occupation that passes the time
b (as modifier)
kill-time pursuits
latent time
n (Psychol) the time from the onset of a stimulus to that of the response, (Also called)
latency, reaction time
lead time
n
1 (Manufacturing) the time between the design of a product and its production
2 (Commerce) the time from the placing of an order to the delivery of the goods
lighting-up time
n the time when vehicles are required by law to have their lights switched on
local time
n the time in a particular region or area expressed with reference to the meridian passing through it
mean time , mean solar time
n the time, at a particular place, measured in terms of the passage of the mean sun; the timescale is not precisely constant
See →
mean solar day
Minkowski space-time
n a four-dimensional space in which three coordinates specify the position of a point in space and the fourth represents the time at which an event occurred at that point
(C20: named after Hermann Minkowski)
Mountain Standard Time
n one of the standard times used in North America, seven hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, (Abbrev.)
MST
needle time
n the limited time allocated by a radio channel to the broadcasting of music from records
night-time
n
a the time from sunset to sunrise; night as distinct from day
b (as modifier)
a night-time prowler
old-time
adj prenominal of or relating to a former time; old-fashioned
old-time dancing
old-time dance
n (Brit) a formal or formation dance, such as the lancers
♦
old-time dancing n
one-time
adj
1 prenominal at some time in the past; former
adv
2 (Caribbean)
informal at once
opening time
n (Brit) the time at which public houses can legally start selling alcoholic drinks
Pacific Standard Time
n one of the standard times used in North America, based on the local time of the 120° meridian, eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, (Abbrev.)
PST
part-time
adj
1 for less than the entire time appropriate to an activity
a part-time job, a part-time waitress
adv
♦
part time
2 on a part-time basis
he works part time (Compare)
→
full-time
♦
part-timer n
prime time
n
1 the peak viewing time on television, for which advertising rates are the highest
adj
♦
primetime
2 occurring during or designed for prime time
a primetime drama
quadruple time
n musical time in which there are four beats in each bar
question time
n (in parliamentary bodies of the British type) a period of time set aside each day for members to question government ministers
quick time
n (Military) the normal marching rate of 120 paces to the minute
Compare →
double time →
3, 4
reaction time
n (Physiol) another name for →
latent time
real-time
adj denoting or relating to a data-processing system in which a computer receives constantly changing data, such as information relating to air-traffic control, travel booking systems, etc., and processes it sufficiently rapidly to be able to control the source of the data
response time
n (Computing) the length of time taken by a system to respond to an instruction
reverberation time
n a measure of the acoustic properties of a room, equal to the time taken for a sound to fall in intensity by 60 decibels. It is usually measured in seconds
run time
n (Computing) the time during which a computer program is executed
short time , short-time working
n a system of working, usually for a temporary period, when employees are required to work and be paid for fewer than their normal hours per week due to a shortage of work
sidereal time
n time based upon the rotation of the earth with respect to a particular star, the sidereal day being the unit of measurement
six-eight time
n (Music) a form of compound duple time in which there are six quaver beats to the bar, indicated by the time signature <time68>, (Often shortened to)
six-eight
slow time
n (Military) a slow marching pace, usually 65 or 75 paces to the minute: used esp. in funeral ceremonies
small-time
adj
Informal insignificant; minor
a small-time criminal
♦
small-timer n
space-time , space-time continuum
n (Physics) the four-dimensional continuum having three spatial coordinates and one time coordinate that together completely specify the location of a particle or an event
standard time
n the official local time of a region or country determined by the distance from Greenwich of a line of longitude passing through the area
stoppage time
n (Soccer, rugby, etc.) another name for →
injury time
stop time
n (Jazz) a passage where the beat stops temporarily
summer time
n (Brit) any daylight-saving time, esp. British Summer Time
three-four time
n (Music) a form of simple triple time in which there are three crotchet beats to the bar, indicated by the time signature <time34>, (Often shortened to)
three-four (Also called (esp. U.S. and Canadian))
three-quarter time
time and a half
n the rate of pay equalling one and a half times the normal rate, often offered for overtime work
time and motion study
n the analysis of industrial or work procedures to determine the most efficient methods of operation, (Also)
time and motion, time study, motion study
time bomb
n a bomb containing a timing mechanism that determines the time at which it will detonate
time capsule
n a container holding articles, documents, etc., representative of the current age, buried in the earth or in the foundations of a new building for discovery in the future
time charter
n the hire of a ship or aircraft for a specified period
Compare →
voyage charter
time clock
n a clock which records, by punching or stamping cards inserted into it, the time of arrival or departure of people, such as employees in a factory
time code
n (on video or audio tape) a separate track on which time references are continually recorded in digital form as an aid to editing
time constant
n (Electronics) the time required for the current or voltage in a circuit to rise or fall exponentially through approximately 63 per cent of its amplitude
time-consuming
adj taking up or involving a great deal of time
time deposit
n a bank deposit from which withdrawals may be made only after advance notice or at a specified future date
Compare →
demand deposit
time dilation , dilatation
n the principle predicted by relativity that time intervals between events in a system have larger values measured by an observer moving with respect to the system than those measured by an observer at rest with respect to it
time-division multiplex
n See →
multiplex →
1
time exposure
n
1 an exposure of a photographic film for a relatively long period, usually a few seconds
2 a photograph produced by such an exposure
time-honoured
adj having been observed for a long time and sanctioned by custom
time immemorial
n
1 the distant past beyond memory or record
2 (Law) time beyond legal memory, fixed by English statute as before the reign of Richard I (1189)
time-lag
n an interval between two connected events
time-lapse photography
n the technique of recording a very slow process, such as the withering of a flower, by taking a large number of photographs on a strip of film at regular intervals. The film is then projected at normal speed
time loan
n a loan repayable before or at a specified future date
Compare →
call loan
time machine
n (in science fiction) a machine in which people or objects can be transported into the past or the future
time-out
n
1 (Sport) an interruption in play during which players rest, discuss tactics, or make substitutions
2 a break taken during working hours
3 (Computing) a condition occurring when the amount of time a computer has been instructed to wait for another device to perform a task has expired, usually indicated by an error message
vb intr
♦
time out
4 (of a computer) to stop operating because of a time-out
time-saving
adj shortening the length of time required for an operation, activity, etc.
♦
time-saver n
time series
n (Statistics) a series of values of a variable taken in successive periods of time
time-served
adj (of a craftsman or tradesman) having completed an apprenticeship; fully trained and competent
a time-served mechanic
time-share
adj denoting, relating to, or forming part of time sharing of property
time-share villas
time sharing
n
a a system of part ownership of a property, such as a flat or villa, for use as a holiday home, whereby each participant buys the right to use the property for the same fixed period annually
b (as modifier)
a time-sharing system
a a system by which users at different terminals of a computer can, because of its high speed, apparently communicate with it at the same time
Compare →
batch processing
b (as modifier)
a time-sharing computer
time sheet
n a card on which are recorded the hours spent working by an employee or employees
time signal
n an announcement of the correct time, esp. on radio or television
time signature
n (Music) a sign usually consisting of two figures, one above the other, the upper figure representing the number of beats per bar and the lower one the time value of each beat. This sign is placed after the key signature at the outset of a piece or section of a piece
time study
n short for →
time and motion study
time switch
n an electric switch that can be set to operate an appliance, such as a light or an oven, at a particular time
time trial
n (esp. in cycling) a race in which the competitors compete against the clock over a specified course
♦
time-trialling n
time value
n (Music) the duration of a given printed note relative to other notes in a composition or section and considered in relation to the basic tempo, (Often shortened to)
time (Also called)
note value, time
time warp
n
1 any distortion of space-time
2 a hypothetical distortion of time in which people and events from one age can be imagined to exist in another age
3 Informal an illusion in which time appears to stand still
he is living in a time warp
time zone
n a region throughout which the same standard time is used. There are 24 time zones in the world, demarcated approximately by meridians at 15° intervals, an hour apart
See also →
zonetime
triple time
n musical time with three beats in each bar
true time
n the time shown by a sundial; solar time. When the sun is at the highest point in its daily path, the true time is exactly noon
Compare →
mean time
turnaround time
n (Computing) the total time taken between the submission of a program for execution and the return of the complete output to the customer
two-four time
n (Music) a form of simple duple time in which there are two crotchet beats in each bar
two-time
vb
Informal to deceive (someone, esp. a lover) by carrying on a relationship with another
♦
two-timer n
universal time
n
1 (from 1928) name adopted internationally for Greenwich Mean Time (measured from Greenwich midnight), now split into several slightly different scales, one of which (UT1) is used by astronomers, (Abbrev.)
UT
2 (Also called)
universal coordinated time an internationally agreed system for civil timekeeping introduced in 1960 and redefined in 1972 as an atomic timescale. Available from broadcast signals, it has a second equal to the International Atomic Time (TAI) second, the difference between UTC and TAI being an integral number of seconds with leap seconds inserted when necessary to keep it within 0.9 seconds of UT1, (Abbrev.)
UTC