twenty-four-hour clock
/ˌtwɛntiˈfɔɹˌaʊəɹ ˈklɔk/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.16 in modern English
39
Scrabble Score
19
Letters
6
Syllables
13
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Alternative form of 24-hour clock (“a timekeeping convention in which the 24 hours of the day are treated as a single period rather than two sets of 12 hours, with the result that midnight is indicated as 00:00 (or sometimes 24:00), and the hours from 1:00 to 11:00 p.m. as 13:00 to 23:00”).
Example Sentences
- "Twenty-four hour clock time is gaining in favor."
- "The American Society of Civil Engineers recently announced a meeting of the society to occur at their house in New York at 20.30 o'clock, thus springing the twenty-four hour clock system upon those who wished to attend, and causing some inquiries and explanations as to the time intended. Commodore Melville, who was to be present, was one of those who had to inquire and to be informed that 8.30 P. M. was intended."
- "Time shall be stated in exactly four figures utilizing the twenty-four clock basis. […] Midnight is 0000, never 2400. The last hour of the twenty-four hour clock day begins at 2300. The last minute of the hour begins at 2359 and ends at 0000, which is the beginning of the first minute ending at 0001 of the first hour of the next day."
- "Twenty-four-hour clock.—The use of the 24-hour clock eliminates the use of a.m. and p.m. Giving the time from midnight to 12.59 remains unchanged; the remaining customary afternoon times are increased by 12."
- "The twenty-four hour clock is used by railroads, airports and the military because there is no need to add a.m. or p.m. The number on the clock immediately tells you if it is before or after noon. Eight thirty in the morning would be 08:30. Eight thirty at night would be 20:30."
- "The benefits and drawbacks of the twenty-four-hour clock were a topic of debate in early twentieth-century France. The guidebook of the Paris Exposition in 1900 states: 'Let's remember that Belgium is the only country to have officially adopted the 24-hour clock, just as the Observatory of Paris has done since 10 January 1900.'"
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌtwɛntiˈfɔɹˌaʊəɹ ˈklɔk/
- British English: /ˌtwɛntiˈfɔːɹˌaʊə ˈklɒk/