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time

n. C / U
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈtaɪm// UK //tˈaɪm// time Archaic General-service Slang

n. the minutes, hours, and days that pass as you live. You use it to talk about when things happen or how long they last.

n. the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. Often used to refer to a specific point on a clock or a measured duration.


SIMPLE

What time does the meeting start tomorrow?

CONTEXTUAL

She spent a lot of time preparing for the exam because the material was quite difficult.

COMPLEX

Philosophers and physicists have long debated whether time is a fundamental property of the universe or merely a human construct used to sequence our sensory experiences.

Synonyms
Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general concept of duration; countable when referring to specific instances or occasions ('three times').

Pitfall

I have been here since three hoursI have been here for three hoursLearners often use 'since' to describe a duration of time, but 'since' must refer to a specific starting point.

Idioms87 entries

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