释义 |
time /tʌɪm /noun1 [mass noun] The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole: travel through space and time one of the greatest wits of all time...- So many things could happen in such a short space of time and yet the whole day lay before her.
- What we see here is simply the ordinary effect of the passage of time, from future to present to past.
- It's a very large investment in terms of time moving the whole company to this.
1.1The continued progress of existence as affecting people and things: things were getting better as time passed...- Several decades of time have passed by as quickly as the clouds have been blown away.
- It would be revealing to return in five years' time to see whether Balgrean has stood the test of time.
- The day will slip away from us as time passes, but not the clarity of the actions we took together in response.
1.2Time or an amount of time as reckoned by a conventional standard: it’s eight o’clock New York Time...- Eastern Standard Time (EST) operates in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland.
- At 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, we set our clocks forward one hour ahead of standard time.
- I told him what happened and he gave you an extension: it has to be in Washington by midnight our time.
1.3 (Time or Father Time) The personification of time, typically as an old man with a scythe and hourglass.Power began to flow out from Father Time's scythe....- ‘If I can deliver presents all around the world in one night,’ Santa claims, ‘I sure can get you back to Father Time's Castle in a few Bongs!’
- They have some very promising youngsters coming through as Father Time catches up with a few of their long serving stalwarts.
2A point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon: the time is 9.30...- The time was nine-fifteen. Time to turn out the lights.
- I saw the time was eight minutes to four from my watch as I braced myself.
- We were lucky - that was the only time that week that the Sunset made it as far as LA.
Synonyms 2.1A moment or definite portion of time allotted, used, or suitable for a purpose: the scheduled departure time shall we fix a time for the meeting?...- Not being allowed to stay there at peak times defeated the purpose of the exercise.
- Dates and times were fixed for all competitions and clubs had to adhere to all these dates.
- So, similarly, most things in the middle of the night or before you get up can be ruled out; they are not suitable times.
2.2 (often time for/to do something) The favourable or appropriate time to do something: it was time to go it’s time for bed...- The questions that follow from that for us can obviously be discussed at the appropriate time.
- At the appropriate time, a subsequent order is issued that states the actual day and times.
- He said he would wait for a more appropriate time to put the questions to the Government.
Synonyms moment, point, point in time, occasion, hour, minute, second, instant, juncture, stage, phase 2.3 ( a time) An indefinite period: travelling always distorts one’s feelings for a time...- The worst day was the end of the month, a time when his funds were close to drying up.
- I can remember a time only a few years ago when Leeds away was one of the toughest fixtures on the list.
- Yet there may come a time when this era is remembered in some form of golden haze.
Synonyms while, spell, stretch, stint, span, season, interval, period, period of time, length of time, duration, run, space, phase, stage, term British informal patch 2.4 (also times) A portion of time in history or characterized by particular events or circumstances: Victorian times at the time of Galileo the park is beautiful at this time of year...- This is a fight that's been going on not only in modern history but in Biblical times.
- We truly are entering one of the most important times in world history.
- We can also search for variations in at even earlier times in the history of the universe.
Synonyms era, age, epoch, period, aeon, years, days; generation, date 2.5 (also times) The conditions of life during a particular period: times have changed...- Chris decided to change careers because changing market conditions meant bleak times for many producers.
- A lot of men and women left this country when times were hard and prospered in foreign lands.
- Daniel said that the centre had given him support and stability through hard times.
2.6 (the Times) Used in names of newspapers: the Oxford Times...- For many years the London newspaper, The Times, carried an advertisement for colonic irrigation on its front page.
- For there are a number of more subtle biases to be perceived by readers of newspapers like The Times - and other media as well.
- Plagiarism has almost become mainstream in India now, with even a Times of India journalist indulging in the shameful act.
2.7 ( one's time) One’s lifetime: I’ve known a lot of women in my time...- I have seen some terrible things in my time.
- I have always been into sports (in my time I have played/done cricket, badminton, circuit training, kick boxing, circuit training and even rock climbing!
Synonyms lifetime, life, life span, allotted span, days, time on earth, existence, threescore years and ten; this mortal coil informal born days 2.8 ( one's time) The successful, fortunate, or influential part of a person’s life or career: in my time that was unheard of...- He hasn't grudged Andy a moment of his time in the spotlight but has been desperate for a taste of it of his own.
- He may not be ready quite yet, but if he continues to progress Nieminen's time will come soon.
- Fiammetta relishes his time in the spotlight.
Synonyms heyday, day, hour, prime, best days/years, youth, vigour, springtime, salad days, maturity 2.9 ( one's time) The appropriate or expected time for something, in particular childbirth or death: he seemed old before his time...- I wanted to give the impression of a man old before his time and an almost stylised unnaturalistic feel to the model.
- The anger still lingered even now, but then the shock had been such that she gave birth before her time.
- Ask the mother who has given birth to a child before time.
2.10An apprenticeship: engineering officers traditionally served their time as fitters in the yards...- Rob served his time as a plasterer and has over 33 years trade experience in the wall and floor tiling profession.
- Jamie had served his time as a joiner and had worked in the. construction industry for the past 15 years.
2.11 dated A period of menstruation or pregnancy.To occupy her time, she had been thinking of writing a biography of her husband. 2.12 [mass noun] The normal rate of pay for time spent working: if called out at the weekend they are paid time and a half...- Anyone who works these holidays must give up the payments of double time and time and a half.
- The Fair Labor Standards Act has no requirement for double time pay.
- Under the Holidays Act, if an employee works on any public holiday, that work now attracts a minimum payment of time and a half.
2.13The length of time taken to run a race or complete an event or journey: his time for the mile was 3:49.31...- The lights were designed to improve bus journey times but according to residents they made traffic problems worse.
- They include adding a minute per mile to the journey time and having enough petrol.
- He added the lane had improved journey times for the 89 bus on that stretch of road by a minute.
2.14British The moment at which the opening hours of a pub end: the landlord called time...- Outsiders might think that the York Beer Festival is all about getting as much quality real ale down your neck before time is called.
2.15 short for full time. he scored the third five minutes from time...- They fell 2-1 behind to an Andy Cole goal 12 minutes from time.
- Klose's final goal came just seven minutes from time.
- Aloisi, who had replaced midfielder Cesar Palacios eight minutes earlier, pounced just before time to earn Osasuna a deserved draw.
2.16 Baseball & American Football A moment at which play stops temporarily within a game: the umpire called time...- To your first question in regards to calling time, that is up to the umpire s judgement whether to call time or not.
- Baseball players and managers of the offensive and defensive team, as well as umpires, can request time out for a number of purposes.
3 [mass noun] Time as allotted, available, or used: we need more time it would be a waste of time...- On average, governors volunteer around five hours of their spare time each month.
- The twenty minute drive gave her time to think and process what had just happened.
- I spent two hours in the pub, left an hour early, and booked the time as overtime.
3.1 informal A prison sentence: he was doing time for fraud...- He had a record for burglary stretching back to when he was 13 and had done time in prison.
- They may serve time in prison, but they also receive treatment for their addiction.
- I hope that the strong attitude that saw me through my career will see me through my time in prison.
4An instance of something happening or being done; an occasion: this is the first time I have got into debt the nurse came in four times a day...- This time, the whole nation rises up as one, demanding a return to a life that has fun.
- He politely checked the mobile with a quick glance each time, then continued without a pause.
- I would try just several sheets of white paper on top next time rather than the whole platen.
4.1An event, occasion, or period experienced in a particular way: she was having a rough time of it...- Her task is to bring together directors to share their knowledge and experiences, when times are tough as well as good.
- The company does not expect a hefty compensation bill as other insurers have also experienced tough times.
- Although Crook had a tough time in his teens, he insists it did not traumatise him.
Synonyms situation, state of affairs, experience, life, way of life; conditions, circumstances, affairs, surroundings, environment, context, background, ambience, atmosphere 5 ( times) (Following a number) expressing multiplication: eleven times four is forty-four...- Next the leftmost column is multiplied by 5 and then the middle column is subtracted as many times as possible.
- The large rectangle ABDF is the same shape as CDFH, but is phi times as large.
- Each digit we place to the left gets a value 10 times as great as the one to the right.
6 [mass noun] The rhythmic pattern of a piece of music, as expressed by a time signature: tunes in waltz time...- Music in waltz time had come to England from the Continent in the late 1790s.
- In compound time, the beat unit is always a dotted note value.
Synonyms rhythm, tempo, beat, pulse, flow; metre, measure, cadence, pattern; accent, stress 6.1The tempo at which a piece of music is played or marked to be played.The music is written in 3/4 time, which means there are three beats to a bar of music....- Reels are written in 2/4 time.
verb1 [with object and adverbial or infinitive] Plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done: the first track race is timed for 11.15 the bomb had been timed to go off an hour later...- Its opening was timed to coincide with the City of Bradford exhibition which was held for several months in Lister Park.
- We have timed the opening to coincide with the run-up to Christmas and it seems to be paying dividends.
- I even timed my departure to coincide with Easter Holidays.
Synonyms schedule, set, set up, arrange, organize, fix, fix up, fix a time for, book, line up, slot in, prearrange, timetable, bill, programme, plan; North American slate 1.1Perform (an action) at a particular moment: Williams timed his pass perfectly from about thirty yards...- The blond full-back's pass to Paulse was perfectly timed and the wing made the 22 remaining metres with something to spare.
- Winger Mark Wallace covered across and caught Owen but the fullback's perfectly timed pass found Calland in support and he ran clear to score.
- Wilkinson's mature performance with perfectly timed passes and Tig's energy helped to secure the 19-7 win.
Synonyms regulate, adjust, calculate, set, synchronize 2 [with object] Measure the time taken by (a process or activity, or a person doing it): we were timed and given certificates according to our speed [with clause]: I timed how long it took to empty that tanker...- This process should be timed carefully: too short and there will be no base flavour, too long and it will overpower.
- Two police constables armed with a stopwatch had timed her between two measured points in Stirton and found she was travelling at 21 mph.
- This was to make sure any potential event could be timed to the nearest thousandth of a second.
Synonyms measure, put a stopwatch on, meter, count informal clock 3 [with object] ( time something out) Computing (Of a computer or a program) cancel an operation automatically because a predefined interval of time has passed without a certain event happening: connections are timed out when they’re not in use [no object]: some networks will time out if they don’t see activity going to the printer...- Unfortunately some customers were timed out of the website and found that when they attempted to continue with their transaction, the six-digit code was no longer valid.
- Host B will start a process and eventually time it out.
- Connection timed out when trying to access System Tab.
3.1 (time out) (Of an operation) be cancelled automatically because a predefined interval of time has passed without a certain event happening. Phrasesabout time against time all the time at one time at the same time at a time at times before time behind time behind the times call time on for the time being give someone the time of day half the time have no time for have the time in (less than) no time in one's own time in time keep good (or bad) time keep time lose no time not before time no time on time out of time pass the time of day time after time (also time and again or time and time again) time and tide wait for no man time flies time immemorial time is money the time of one's life time of the month time out of mind time was (only) time will tell OriginOld English tīma, of Germanic origin; related to tide, which it superseded in temporal senses. The earliest of the current verb senses (dating from late Middle English) is 'do (something) at a particular moment'. To the Anglo-Saxons time and tide meant the same thing. Both time immemorial and its equivalent time out of mind were originally legal formulas. Their exact meaning was ‘a time beyond legal memory’, which was fixed very precisely by statute in 1276 as 1 July 1189, the beginning of the reign of Richard I. The idea was that if you could prove possession of a land or a title or right from that date there was no need to establish when or how it was originally acquired. Not surprisingly, everyone but the lawyers soon forgot the specific meaning and both phrases developed the more general sense of ‘a very long time ago’. We hear a lot today about the ‘money-rich but time-poor’ lives of many in the West, and the expression time is money has a very modern ring to it. But it seems to have been coined as long ago as 1748 by the American statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin, in a speech entitled ‘Advice to Young Tradesmen’. Before that the thought had clearly occurred to many over the centuries, as ‘the most costly outlay is time’ is attributed to the ancient Athenian orator and politician Antiphon. See also move
Rhymesbegrime, Chaim, chime, climb, clime, crime, dime, grime, half-time, I'm, lime, mime, mistime, part-time, prime, rhyme, rime, slime, sublime, sub-prime, thyme |