tell time

English

Alternative forms

• tell the time (UK)

Etymology

From tell in the sense of “count”.

Verb

tell time (third-person singular simple present tells time, present participle telling time, simple past and past participle told time)

1. To measure time, to determine the current time.

   Synonym: keep time

   Ancient civilizations told time at night by the passage of stars.

2. (specifically) To read the time as displayed on an analog clock.

   He couldn't tell time until he was in his teens.

Translations

to measure time

• French: donner l’heure, chronométrer (fr)

to read a clock

• French: donner l’heure, dire l’heure
• Portuguese: ler as horas

Anagrams

• Millette