O'clock

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /əˈklÉ’k/, /əʊˈklÉ’k/
• US IPA: /əˈklÉ‘k/, /oʊˈklÉ‘k/
• Rhymes: -É’k

Origin

Shortened form of of the clock.

Full definition of o'clock

Adverb

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?
• 1892, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I say, Watson, what o'clock is it?
• 1935, George Goodchild, Death on the Centre Court Chapter 5, By one o'clock the place was choc-a-bloc. … The restaurant was packed, and the promenade between the two main courts and the subsidiary courts was thronged with healthy-looking youngish people, drawn to the Mecca of tennis from all parts of the country.
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 (magazine), Volume 129, page 144,“My sister requires your attendance at supper o’clock this evening — no excuse accepted.”
• 1998, Carolyn Greene, Heavenly Husband, 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.
• 1989, Aileen R. Lotz, Birding around the year: when to find birds in North America, It's at nine o'clock about two feet in from the edge of the branch. You need to know your "o'clocks" (nondigital) to spot birds.
• 1992, Herbert Benson, The Wellness book, Without moving your head, move your gaze upward to look at twelve o’clock. Now look down at six o’clock. Repeat three times, then blink several times, and rest with your eyes closed.
• 1994, Peter Abramoff, Laboratory outlines in biology--VI, Thus, you could tell them to "look at three o'clock," or "look just off-center toward nine o'clock," and so forth. Alternatively, in some microscopes a thin black line appears to cut across the field of view
• 1997, Bill Thompson, Bird watching for dummies, Three o'clock and nine o'clock would be at the outer right and outer left sides of the tree, respectively, and so on. The clock technique is a very helpful way for one bird watcher to direct others to a hard-to-spot perched bird.
• 1943 November 29, Target: Germany, in Life (magazine), page 80,''At 1057 we were just over the islands and at 1100 the tail gunner reported flak at six o’clock, below.

Derived terms

Related terms

• five o'clock shadow