noun

hourglass

OW-uhg-lahs

Hourglass (noun) means a timekeeping device with two glass bulbs joined by a narrow neck, through which sand trickles from top to bottom. Example: “He flipped the hourglass to time the chess move.”

noun

A timekeeping device with two glass bulbs joined by a narrow neck, through which sand trickles from top to bottom.

"He flipped the hourglass to time the chess move."

A cursor shape (resembling an hourglass) shown while a computer is processing.

"The screen froze with the hourglass spinning endlessly."

How to use hourglass

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sand-timer, or the "please wait" cursor icon on older computer systems.

Common pairings

hourglass figure hourglass cursor

Word forms

hourglassed past tense, hourglasses plural, hourglasses singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “hourglass” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He flipped the _____ to time the chess move.

Etymology

From hour + glass.

Frequently asked questions

What does “hourglass” mean?

The word “hourglass” means a timekeeping device with two glass bulbs joined by a narrow neck, through which sand trickles from top to bottom. In plain terms, a sand-timer, or the "please wait" cursor icon on older computer systems.

How do you pronounce “hourglass”?

“Hourglass” is pronounced OW-uhg-lahs (/ˈaʊəɡlɑːs/ in IPA).

How do you use “hourglass” in a sentence?

Here is “hourglass” used in a sentence: “He flipped the hourglass to time the chess move.”

What part of speech is “hourglass”?

“Hourglass” is a noun.

How many meanings does “hourglass” have?

“Hourglass” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a timekeeping device with two glass bulbs joined by a narrow neck, through which sand trickles from top to bottom.