Sundial

Definitions

1. A device measuring the time of day by the position of a shadow cast by a pole or plate (gnomon) upon an engraved series of marks.
2. A sea snail of the genus Heliacus.

Equivalents

Examples

“The birdbath includes a small gnomon that acts as a sundial with markings on the basin if it's aligned correctly with the sun.”

“Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want⟳ to read⟳ riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."”

“The shop⟳ carries more than a dozen sundials, mostly of bronze, plus an astrolabe ($650) of wrought iron⟳.”

“It was Oxford now—the matriculation photograph, posed in the stony front quad at Corpus, the pelican on top of the sundial appearing to sit⟳ on the head of the lanky, begowned chemist at the centre of the back row.”

CEFR level