hour hand: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Technical
Quick answer
What does “hour hand” mean?
The shorter hand on an analogue clock or watch that indicates the current hour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The shorter hand on an analogue clock or watch that indicates the current hour.
The pointer on a timepiece that moves more slowly, completing one revolution every twelve hours, as opposed to the minute or second hand. The term can also metaphorically refer to something indicating the main or slower-moving indicator in a process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Associated with teaching time, basic horology, and everyday objects.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, though potentially less frequent in everyday speech in the digital age.
Grammar
How to Use “hour hand” in a Sentence
The [hour hand] of the [clock] is [broken].When the [hour hand] points to [number], it's [time].Look at where the [hour hand] is.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hour hand” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not a verb
American English
- N/A - not a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A - not an adverb
American English
- N/A - not an adverb
adjective
British English
- N/A - not an adjective
American English
- N/A - not an adjective
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in manufacturing or retail contexts related to watches.
Academic
Used in primary education for teaching time; also in history of technology or design.
Everyday
Common when explaining how to tell time on an analogue clock.
Technical
Standard term in horology (clock/watch making and repair).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hour hand”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hour hand”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hour hand”
- Writing as one word: 'hourhand'.
- Confusing it with 'hour hand' as a possessive (e.g., the hour's hand).
- Using 'clock hand' or 'watch hand' without specifying 'hour'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is 'hour hand'. 'Hour' acts as a noun modifier and is almost always singular in such compounds.
No, the term specifically refers to the physical pointer on an analogue clock or watch face.
The hour hand is shorter, moves slower (one revolution per 12 hours), and indicates the hour. The minute hand is longer, moves faster (one revolution per hour), and indicates the minutes past the hour.
"Little hand" is a common, less formal synonym used especially when teaching children, as it describes its physical appearance (shorter) compared to the 'big hand' (minute hand).
The shorter hand on an analogue clock or watch that indicates the current hour.
Hour hand is usually neutral to technical in register.
Hour hand: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaʊə hænd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈaʊ(ə)r hænd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The hour hand doesn't lie.”
- “Like watching the hour hand move (for something very slow).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOUR is SHORTER. The HOUR HAND is the SHORTER hand.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE (the hand moves through space to indicate a point in time).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the primary function of the hour hand?