time
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A dimension of spacetime with the opposite metric signature to space dimensions.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
tymIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈtaɪm
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
physicsusually uncountable
A dimension of spacetime with the opposite metric signature to space dimensions; the fourth dimension.
uncountable
The feeling of the passage of events and their relative duration, as experienced by an individual.
uncountable
The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events.
countable
A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression.
A period of time considered as a resource under your control and sufficient to accomplish something
“Take time to smell the roses.”
uncountable
The duration of time of a given day that has passed; the moment, as indicated by a clock or similar device.
verb
Measure the time or duration of an event or action or the person who performs an action in a certain period of time
transitive
To choose when something commences or its duration.
To measure, as in music or harmony.
transitive
To measure or record the time, duration, or rate of something.
Regulate or set the time of
To regulate as to time; to accompany, or agree with, in time of movement.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A dimension of spacetime with the opposite metric signature to space dimensions; the fourth dimension.
Used this way, time is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a scientific use: it names something precisely within a field of study, so it appears in research and teaching more than in conversation.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Science
- Academic writing
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use time
- “Take time to smell the roses.”noun
- “Do you know what time it is?”noun
- “The time of year for planting.”noun
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
A more or less definite period of time now or previously present.
A timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
The time required for the current or voltage in a circuit to rise or fall exponentially through approximately 63 per cent of its amplitude.
Chronoscope for measuring the time difference between two events.
Chronoscope for measuring the time difference between two events.
A certificate of deposit from which withdrawals can be made only after advance notice or at a specified future date.
A savings account in which the deposit is held for a fixed term or in which withdrawals can be made only after giving notice or with loss of interest.
A draft payable at a specified future date.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
A schedule listing events and the times at which they will take place.
Being at the right time.
The act or process of determining the time.
A measuring instrument or device for keeping time.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Common Forms & Phrases
- on time , Arriving or happening at the arranged moment.
- in time , Early enough for something.
- waste time , Use time without a useful result.
- take your time , Do something without hurrying.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Related Learning
Guides that use this word in context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “time” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.