-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy
- ALL
Definition of gnomon
1 : an object that by the position or length of its shadow serves as an indicator especially of the hour of the day: such asa : the pin of a sundialb : a column or shaft erected perpendicular to the horizon
2 : the remainder of a parallelogram after the removal of a similar parallelogram containing one of its corners
People Are Reading
Recent Examples of gnomon from the Web
-
The original clock is missing its gnomon, the part of a sundial that casts a shadow, but an 18th-century museum curator described it having one in the shape of a pig’s tail, so Parslow re-created that, too.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gnomon'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of gnomon
Origin and Etymology of gnomon
Latin, from Greek gnōmōn interpreter, pointer on a sundial, from gignōskein
Learn More about gnomon
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up gnomon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!