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Definition of sundial

sundial

/ˈsʌn.daɪ.əl/
sun · di · al
Plural:sundials
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sundial Lexical Profile

sundial Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An instrument that indicates the time of day by the position of a shadow cast by the sun onto a marked surface.

Example

"The ancient Romans relied on a marble sundial in the city square to keep track of the passing hours."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sundial

• Nearby Words

sundae
sundeck
sundew
sundial
sundown
sundowner
sundrenched

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English, combining 'sun' and 'dial' (which originally referred to the daily church services and later the face of a clock).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sundial. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sundial
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