time Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an instance or single occasion for some event
    clip.
    • this time he succeeded
    • he called four times
    • he could do ten at a clip
  2. noun a period of time considered as a resource under your control and sufficient to accomplish something
    • take time to smell the roses
    • I didn't have time to finish
    • it took more than half my time
  3. noun an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities)
    • he waited a long time
    • the time of year for planting
    • he was a great actor in his time
  4. noun a suitable moment
    • it is time to go
  5. noun the continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past
  6. noun a person's experience on a particular occasion
    • he had a time holding back the tears
    • they had a good time together
  7. noun a reading of a point in time as given by a clock
    clock time.
    • do you know what time it is?
    • the time is 10 o'clock
  8. noun the fourth coordinate that is required (along with three spatial dimensions) to specify a physical event
    fourth dimension.
  9. noun rhythm as given by division into parts of equal duration
    metre; meter.
  10. noun the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
    prison term; sentence.
    • he served a prison term of 15 months
    • his sentence was 5 to 10 years
    • he is doing time in the county jail
  11. verb measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time
    clock.
    • he clocked the runners
  12. verb assign a time for an activity or event
    • The candidate carefully timed his appearance at the disaster scene
  13. verb set the speed, duration, or execution of
    • we time the process to manufacture our cars very precisely
  14. verb regulate or set the time of
    • time the clock
  15. verb adjust so that a force is applied and an action occurs at the desired time
    • The good player times his swing so as to hit the ball squarely

WordNet

Time noun
Etymology
OE. time, AS. tima, akin to tid time, and to Icel. timi, Dan. time an hour, Sw. timme. *58. See Tide, n.
Wordforms
plural Times
Definitions
  1. Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms which designate limited portions thereof.
    The time wasteth [i. e. passes away] night and day. Chaucer.
    I know of no ideas . . . that have a better claim to be accounted simple and original than those of space and time. Reid.
  2. A particular period or part of duration, whether past, present, or future; a point or portion of duration; as, the time was, or has been; the time is, or will be.
    God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Heb. i. 1.
  3. The period at which any definite event occurred, or person lived; age; period; era; as, the Spanish Armada was destroyed in the time of Queen Elizabeth; -- often in the plural; as, ancient times; modern times.
  4. The duration of one's life; the hours and days which a person has at his disposal.
    Believe me, your time is not your own; it belongs to God, to religion, to mankind. Buckminster.
  5. A proper time; a season; an opportunity.
    There is . . . a time to every purpose. Eccl. iii. 1.
    The time of figs was not yet. Mark xi. 13.
  6. Hour of travail, delivery, or parturition.
    She was within one month of her time. Clarendon.
  7. Performance or occurrence of an action or event, considered with reference to repetition; addition of a number to itself; repetition; as, to double cloth four times; four times four, or sixteen.
    Summers three times eight save one. Milton.
  8. The present life; existence in this world as contrasted with immortal life; definite, as contrasted with infinite, duration.
    Till time and sin together cease. Keble.
  9. (Gram.) Tense.
  10. (Mus.) The measured duration of sounds; measure; tempo; rate of movement; rhythmical division; as, common or triple time; the musician keeps good time.
    Some few lines set unto a solemn time. Beau. & Fl.
    ✍ Time is often used in the formation of compounds, mostly self-explaining; as, time-battered, time-beguiling, time-consecrated, time-consuming, time-enduring, time-killing, time-sanctioned, time-scorner, time-wasting, time-worn, etc.
Time transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Timed ; present participle & verbal noun Timing
Definitions
  1. To appoint the time for; to bring, begin, or perform at the proper season or time; as, he timed his appearance rightly.
    There is no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things. Bacon.
  2. To regulate as to time; to accompany, or agree with, in time of movement.
    Who overlooked the oars, and timed the stroke. Addison.
    He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying cries. Shak.
  3. To ascertain or record the time, duration, or rate of; as, to time the speed of horses, or hours for workmen.
  4. To measure, as in music or harmony.
Time intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To keep or beat time; to proceed or move in time.
    With oar strokes timing to their song. Whittier.
  2. To pass time; to delay. Obs.

Webster 1913