clepsydra

noun

Definition of clepsydranext
as in sundial

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clepsydra Time is kept with a clepsydra, an antique clock consisting of a coconut shell with a hole in it floating in a bucket of water. — Paul Salopek, History & Culture, 4 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clepsydra
  1. sundial
  2. hourglass
  3. water clock
Noun
  • The first sundials and water clocks were determined to have been used in 1200 B.C. by the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Days sometimes may feel like mere hours when times are good, and the moments may barely tick by in a dull day, but the passage of Earth around the sun hasn’t changed in an easily measurable way since humans first started using sundials.
    — Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2025
Definition of sundial
Noun
  • At work, Kirkham uses an antique sand hourglass which times an hour.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Chloe Bailey Clad in an hourglass Valdrin Sahiti gown, Chloe Bailey continued her blond bob era, pairing the pithy style with stringent liner and lash clusters along her waterline.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 28 June 2026
Definition of hourglass
Noun
  • Before time zones, people used other methods of telling time like sun dials and water clocks.
    — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 9 Oct. 2025
  • His intricate water clocks and automata were not only practical but also visually appealing.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of water clock

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cleping
clepsydra
clepsydras
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“Clepsydra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clepsydra. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on clepsydra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clepsydra

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