# hourglass

/ˈaʊɝˌɡɫæs/ (US) · /ˈaʊəɡlɑːs/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hourglass
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a glass container with two bulbs connected by a narrow neck. Sand flows from the top bulb to the bottom one, and it takes exactly one hour for all the sand to fall.

For teachers: a glass vessel consisting of two bulbs connected by a narrow neck, containing sand that flows from the upper to the lower bulb at a constant rate. Used historically to measure time intervals.

## Examples

- The hourglass measures exactly one hour of time.
- The old clockmaker used an hourglass to time the assembly of the delicate gears in the watch.
- While modern quartz clocks offer superior precision, the hourglass remains a powerful symbol of the passage of time and the inevitability of its end.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.