English
o'clock
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /əˈklɒk/, /əʊˈklɒk/
  • (America) IPA: /əˈklɑk/, /oʊˈklɑk/
Adverb

o'clock (not comparable)

  1. (modifying a numeral, one to twelve) In conjunction with a numeral, indicates the time within a twelve-hour period (midnight to noon or noon to midnight), specifically the time when the hour hand of a clock points precisely to the symbol or marking corresponding to the designated numeral.
    We are expected to be there at six o'clock in the morning!
    It is two o'clock.
    (rare, nonstandard) What o'clock is it?
  2. (jocular) In conjunction with a term representing an action or event that occurs daily, indicates the time that said action or event occurs, or first occurs.
    • 1880, Henrietta A. Duff, Honor Carmichael, page 251 ↗,
      That same evening at tea-time — (I am sorry to have to introduce you to another eating-scene, but the hours in English households are usually marked by repasts. It is a daily calendar of feasts — breakfast o’clock, dinner o’clock, &c., […] ).
    • 1904, George Augustus Sala, Edmund Hodgson Yates, Temple Bar, Volume 129, page 144 ↗,
      “My sister requires your attendance at supper o’clock this evening — no excuse accepted.”
    • 1998, Carolyn Greene, Heavenly Husband, [http://books.google.com/books?id=ovdrZZmRa_wC&q=%22lunch|luncheon+o%27clock%22&dq=%22lunch|luncheon+o%27clock%22&hl=en&ei=0PUqTuaZIc3JrAfZ3bSyDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ page 129],
      “It's lunch o’clock. Wanna go out to eat?”
  3. (with a numeral, one to twelve) In conjunction with a numeral, indicates the direction, relative to the speaker or a vehicle, especially an aircraft, corresponding to the direction the hour hand is pointing at the time corresponding to the numeral, with twelve representing directly ahead and three being to the right.
    • 1943 November 29, Target: Germany, in Life, [http://books.google.com/books?id=DVcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA80&dq=%22flak%22+-intitle:flak&hl=en&ei=4jkpTujsJYjMmAWg8p2ZDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=%22flak%22%20-intitle%3Aflak&f=false page 80],
      At 1057 we were just over the islands and at 1100 the tail gunner reported flak at six o’clock, below.
Related terms Translations
  • French: une heure
  • Georgian: პირველი საათი
  • German: ein Uhr
  • Italian: l'una, l'una in punto, l'una esatta
  • Portuguese: uma hora, uma (hora) em ponto
  • Russian: час
  • Spanish: la una#Spanish, la una en punto
Translations
  • French: à une heure
  • German: um 1 Uhr, um eins
  • Italian: l'una in punto, l'una esatta
  • Portuguese: à uma (hora)
  • Russian: в час
  • Spanish: a la una, a la una en punto


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