four-o'clock

[ fawr-uh-klok, fohr- ]

noun

1. a common garden plant, Mirabilis jalapa, of the four-o'clock family, having tubular red, white, yellow, or variegated flowers that open late in the afternoon.
2. any plant of the same genus.

four-o'clock

noun

1. Also calledmarvel-of-Peru a tropical American nyctaginaceous plant, Mirabilis jalapa , cultivated for its tubular yellow, red, or white flowers that open in late afternoon
2. another name for friarbird , esp the noisy friarbird ( Philemon corniculatus ): so called because of its cry

Word History and Origins

Origin of four-o'clock¹

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

"We were in isolation from Thursday until Tuesday at four-o'clock - in that time I got out of the cabin for one hour for a bit of daylight," he told BBC Breakfast.

From BBC

Come four o'clock in the afternoon, Grandma would let me go with her to the garden in the rear of the backyard to water what she called her four-o'clock plants.

From Literature

The new neighbor arrives after the four-o’clock show.

From Literature

At the four-o’clock show, Stella can only get as far as the entrance to the ring.

From Literature

I watch Ruby trudge sullenly through the four-o’clock show, and I wonder: What will happen if I fail?

From Literature