hour
n. countablen. a period of time that lasts 60 minutes. There are 24 of these in one full day.
n. a unit of time equal to 60 minutes or one twenty-fourth of a day. Often used in the plural to refer to a specific period of time set aside for a particular activity.
The flight to London takes about one hour.
The doctor told me to wait in the lobby for half an hour before my appointment.
The committee spent several hours debating the new policy, yet they failed to reach a consensus before the building closed for the night.
From Middle English houre, hour, oure, from Old French houre, from Latin hōra (“hour”), from Ancient Greek ὥρα (hṓra, “any time or period, whether of the year, month, or day”), from Proto-Indo-European *yóh₁r̥ (“year, season”). Akin to Old English ġēar (“year”). Doublet of hora and year. Compare horary. Partly displaced native Old English tīd (“time, hour”), whence Modern English tide.
Takes the indefinite article 'an' because it begins with a vowel sound, despite the silent 'h'.
a houran hourBecause the 'h' is silent, the word begins with a vowel sound and requires 'an' instead of 'a'.
- 01
amateur hour
A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism.
- 02
eleventh-hour
Just before the moment that it is too late; in the nick of time; last-minute.
- 03
finest hour
A point in time or a relatively brief period of time when an especially distinguished, admirable, or effective set of actions is performed.