analogue clock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “analogue clock” mean?
A clock that shows the time using hands (hour and minute) moving around a dial marked with the twelve hours.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A clock that shows the time using hands (hour and minute) moving around a dial marked with the twelve hours.
A timekeeping device distinguished from digital displays; can also metaphorically represent tradition, continuity, or physical mechanisms in contrast to digital/virtual processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'analogue' (UK) vs. 'analog' (US). The phrase 'analog/analogue clock' is used in both varieties with the same meaning.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes tradition, classic design, and non-digital technology.
Frequency
The phrase is common in both UK and US English, with frequency driven by the context of discussing timepieces or contrasting technologies.
Grammar
How to Use “analogue clock” in a Sentence
[have/see/read] an analogue clockthe [hands/face] of an analogue clockan analogue clock [on the wall/sits/shows]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “analogue clock” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The classroom is being analogue-clocked for the new term. (Rare, non-standard)
American English
- They decided to analog-clock the station concourse. (Rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The analogue-clock face was easy to read.
- He preferred an analogue-clock mechanism.
American English
- The analog-clock display is standard.
- It's an analog-clock design.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of office decor or branding that uses traditional imagery.
Academic
Used in education when teaching children to tell time or in historical/design contexts.
Everyday
Very common when describing or distinguishing types of clocks in homes, schools, or public spaces.
Technical
Used in watchmaking, engineering, or design to specify the display mechanism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “analogue clock”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “analogue clock”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “analogue clock”
- Misspelling: 'analog clock' (UK) or 'analogue clock' (US) where the local variant is not followed.
- Incorrect plural: 'analogue clocks' (correct), not 'analogues clock'.
- Confusing with 'analog' in electronics/computing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct, but 'analogue' is standard British English spelling, and 'analog' is standard American English spelling. The phrase is understood everywhere.
Many find it provides a quicker, more intuitive visual sense of the passage of time (e.g., how much of the hour is left) compared to a digital readout.
Yes, it is still a common part of the primary school curriculum in many countries, though the ubiquity of digital displays has made the skill less frequently used in daily life.
Yes. In a general sense, 'analogue/analog' describes any device or system that represents data by a continuously variable physical quantity (e.g., a vinyl record, a mercury thermometer), as opposed to digital's discrete numbers.
A clock that shows the time using hands (hour and minute) moving around a dial marked with the twelve hours.
Analogue clock is usually neutral in register.
Analogue clock: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.ə.lɒɡ ˈklɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.ə.lɑːɡ ˈklɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not directly applicable. The term itself is not idiomatic.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Analogue has an 'ue' just like 'dialogue' – both involve a continuous interaction (of hands with a dial, or of people talking).
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CIRCULAR JOURNEY (hands travel around a circle). CONTINUITY IS ANALOGUE (smooth, uninterrupted motion vs. discrete digital numbers).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of an analogue clock?