grandfather clock

noun

: a tall pendulum clock that stands on the floor

called also grandfather, grandfather's clock

Examples of grandfather clock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Martinsville gives grandfather clocks to its NASCAR Cup winners. Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 From a snowman on skis to a grandfather clock that feels stolen from a scene in The Nutcracker, anyone will enjoy building miniature worlds that match the festivities happening around them. Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2023 The doorman still ushers guests into the grand, three-story lobby, where the famous grandfather clock has been chiming since the hotel opened. Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2023 Placed over the light source, the Fresnel lens often rested on a clockwork mechanism hung with weights, like those of a gigantic grandfather clock. Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023 Similar to how a grandfather clock keeps time by a swinging pendulum, an atomic clock monitors the vibrations of an atom. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2023 South Yorkshire police are reportedly investigating after more than 350 items were stolen in a heist, including a replica Imperial Coronation Fabergé coach egg, a grandfather clock clockface, sets of silver candelabra, Russian religious icons, and more. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 24 Feb. 2022 Whereas grandfather clocks keep time by tracking swinging pendulums, atomic clocks monitor the quantum vibrations of atoms. IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2023 The cache—which has no connections to Islamic art—features pendulum clocks, self-winding clocks, decorative watches, grandfather clocks and other rare specimens. Fern Reiss, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grandfather clock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from the song My Grandfather's Clock (1876) by Henry C. Work †1884 American songwriter

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grandfather clock was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near grandfather clock

Cite this Entry

“Grandfather clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grandfather%20clock. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grandfather clock

noun
: a tall clock standing directly on the floor

More from Merriam-Webster on grandfather clock

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