hour circle

noun

: a circle on the celestial sphere that passes through both celestial poles

Examples of hour circle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hour circle is decorated with miniature painting, which involved using 28 different colors, and took 32 hours for the painting and eight hours of firing in a kiln. Carol Besler, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025 But all of the watches will keep exacting time, and display it on a Roman numeral hour circle and an Arabic numeral minute track on a silvered disk. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 20 July 2022 Instead of storming the stores or spending hours circling some parking garage, everyone would take a long winter’s nap. Chris Erskine, latimes.com, 1 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hour circle was in 1690

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hour circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hour%20circle. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on hour circle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!