hourglass

1 of 2

noun

hour·​glass ˈau̇(-ə)r-ˌglas 

: an instrument for measuring time consisting of a glass vessel having two compartments from the upper of which a quantity of usually sand runs in an hour into the lower one

Illustration of hourglass

hourglass

2 of 2

adjective

: shaped like an hourglass

an hourglass figure

Examples of hourglass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Among their highlights were Schiaparelli and Mugler’s exaggerated hourglass shapes, but the bulbous ones at Comme de Garçons were also noteworthy. —Alex Badia, WWD, 7 Oct. 2024

A couple of cute guys sported Pierrot pajamas and a slouchy golden-beige sweater over a black linen kilt; an hourglass black jacket—its waist nipped as if someone had inhaled in shock—came with stovepipe pants with scrunched hems; a downtown Degas tulle petticoat looked decidedly Black Swan-ish. —Mark Holgate, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2024

Adjective

And yet, her body, designed by a man, had a waist equivalent to 18 inches on a real woman; an impossibly thin figure made even more so by her zaftig 39-inch bust and 33-inch hourglass hip measurement. —Kate Branch, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2018

Her bright blouse and pants clung to her thick, hourglass figure. —Aya De Leon, The Root, 22 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1515, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1834, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hourglass

noun

hour·​glass

ˈȧu(ə)r-ˌglas

: an instrument for measuring time in which usually sand runs from the upper part to the lower part of a glass container in an hour

hourglass adjective