taɪm n. & v. --n. 1
the indefinite continued
progress of
existence, events,
etc., in
past, present,
and future regarded as a
whole. 2 a the progress of
this as affecting persons or things (stood the test of time). b (Time) (in full
Father Time) the
personification of time,
esp. as an
old man with a
scythe and
hourglass. 3 a
more or
less definite portion of time belonging to
particular events or circumstances (the time of the
Plague;
prehistoric times; the scientists of the time). 4 an allotted,
available, or
measurable portion of time; the
period of time at one's
disposal (am wasting my time;
had no time to
visit; how
much time do
you need?). 5 a
point of time esp. in hours and minutes (the time is 7.30;
what time is it?). 6 (prec. by a) an indefinite period (waited
for a time). 7 time or an
amount of time as reckoned by a
conventional standard (the time allowed is
one hour;
ran the
mile in
record time;
eight o'clock
New York time). 8 a an
occasion (last time I saw you). b an
event or occasion qualified in
some way (had a
good time). 9 a
moment or definite portion of time destined or
suitable for a
purpose etc. (now is the time to
act;
shall we
fix a time?). 10 (in pl.) expressing
multiplication (is
four times as old;
five times
six is thirty). 11 a
lifetime (will last my time). 12 (in
sing. or pl.) a the conditions of
life or of a period (hard times; times
have changed). b (prec. by the) the present
age, or
that being considered. 13 colloq. a
prison sentence (is
doing time). 14 an apprenticeship (served
his time). 15 a period of
gestation. 16 the date or expected date of
childbirth (is
near her time) or of
death (my time is
drawing near). 17
measured time
spent in
work (put
them on
short time). 18 a
any of
several rhythmic patterns of
music (in
waltz time). b the
duration of a
note as indicated by a
crotchet,
minim, etc. 19
Brit. the moment at
which the
opening hours of a
public house end. --v.tr. 1
choose the time or occasion for (time
your remarks carefully). 2 do at a
chosen or
correct time. 3
arrange the time of
arrival of. 4
ascertain the time taken by (a process or
activity, or a
person doing it). 5
regulate the duration or
interval of; set times for (trains are timed to
arrive every hour). øagainst time with
utmost speed, so as to
finish by a specified time (working
against time).
ahead of time earlier
than expected. ahead of one's time having ideas
too enlightened or advanced to be accepted by one's contemporaries.
all the time 1
during the whole of the time referred to (often
despite some
contrary expectation etc.) (we
never noticed, but he
was there all the time). 2 constantly (nags all the time). 3 at all times (leaves a
light on all the time). at one time 1 in or during a
known but
unspecified past period. 2 simultaneously (ran
three businesses at one time). at the
same time 1 simultaneously; at a time that is the same for all. 2
nevertheless (at the same time, I do
not want to
offend you). at a time separately in the specified groups or numbers (came three at a time). at times occasionally, intermittently.
before time (usu. prec. by not) before the
due or expected time. before one's time prematurely (old before his time). for the time being for the present;
until some
other arrangement is
made.
half the time colloq. as
often as not. have no time for 1 be
unable or
unwilling to
spend time
on. 2
dislike. have the time 1 be
able to spend the time needed. 2
know from a
watch etc. what time it
is. have a time of it
undergo trouble or
difficulty. in no (or less than no) time 1
very soon. 2 very quickly. in one's
own good time at a time and a rate
decided by
oneself. in one's own time
outside working hours. in time 1 not
late,
punctual (was in time to
catch the bus). 2 eventually (in time you
may agree). 3 in
accordance with a
given rhythm or
tempo, esp. of music. in one's time at or during some
previous period of one's life (in his time he was a
great hurdler).
keep good (or bad) time 1 (of a clock etc.) record time accurately (or inaccurately). 2 be habitually punctual (or not punctual). keep time
move or sing etc. in time. know the time of
day be well
informed.
lose no time (often foll. by in +
verbal noun) act
immediately (lost no time in cashing the cheque). not before time not too soon;
timely. no time colloq. a very short interval (it was no time before
they came).
out of time
unseasonable; unseasonably. pass the time of day colloq.
exchange a
greeting or
casual remarks. time
after time 1 repeatedly, on
many occasions. 2 in many instances. time and (or time and time)
again on many occasions. time and a half a rate of
payment for work at one and a half times the
normal rate. time-and-motion (usu. attrib.)
concerned with measuring the
efficiency of
industrial and other operations. time
bomb a bomb designed to
explode at a
pre-set time. time
capsule a box etc. containing objects
typical of the present time, buried for
discovery in the future. time clock 1 a clock with a
device for
recording workers' hours of work. 2 a
switch mechanism activated at pre-set times by a built-in clock. time-consuming using much or too much time. time
exposure the exposure of photographic
film for longer than the
maximum normal
shutter setting. time
factor the passage of time as a
limitation on what can be achieved. time-fuse a fuse
calculated to burn for or explode at a given time. time-honoured esteemed by
tradition or
through custom. time
immemorial (or out of mind) a longer time than
anyone can
remember or trace. time-lag an interval of time
between an event, a
cause, etc. and
its effect. time-lapse (of photography) using frames taken at long intervals to
photograph a
slow process, and
shown continuously as if at normal speed. time-limit the
limit of time
within which a
task must be
done. the time of day the hour by the clock. time
off time for rest or
recreation etc. the time of one's life a period or occasion of
exceptional enjoyment. time out esp. US 1 a
brief intermission in a game etc. 2 = time off. time-scale the time allowed for or taken by a
sequence of events in
relation to a broader period of time. time-served having completed a period of apprenticeship or
training. time-server a person
who changes his or her
view to
suit the prevailing circumstances,
fashion, etc. time-share a share in a
property under a time-sharing
scheme. time-sharing 1 the
operation of a
computer system by several users for
different operations at one time. 2 the
use of a
holiday home at agreed different times by several
joint owners. time sheet a sheet of
paper for recording hours of work etc. time signal an
audible (esp. broadcast) signal or announcement of the
exact time of day. time
signature Mus. an
indication of tempo
following a
clef, expressed as a
fraction with the
numerator giving the
number of beats in
each bar and the
denominator giving the duration of each
beat. time switch a switch
acting automatically at a pre-set time. time
warp an
imaginary distortion of
space in relation to time,
whereby persons or objects of one age can be moved to
another. time was there was a time (time was
when I
could do that). time-work work
paid for by the time it takes. time-worn impaired by age. time
zone a
range of longitudes
where a
common standard time is used . [OE tima f. Gmc]