timer

American  

[tahy-mer] / ˈtaɪ mər /

noun

1. a person or thing that times. times.

2. a person who measures or records time. times.

3. a device for indicating or measuring elapsed time, times, as a stopwatch.

4. a device for controlling machinery, appliances, or the like, in a specified way at a predetermined time: times.

   Please put the roast in the oven and set the timer to cook it for two hours.

5. (in an internal-combustion engine) a set of points actuated by a cam, which causes the spark for igniting the charge at the instant required.

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timer British  

/ ˈtaɪmə /

noun

1. a device for measuring, recording, or indicating time

2. a switch or regulator that causes a mechanism to operate at a specific time or at predetermined intervals

3. a person or thing that times

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Etymology

Origin of timer

First recorded in 1490–1500; time + -er ¹

Example Sentences

“First timer, eh?” he asks, offering me the crook of his elbow.

From Literature

This can end up hurting long-term returns, with the timer underperforming an investor who stayed put.

From MarketWatch

With the timers set, Derkavets was directed to wipe clean everything he had handled.

From BBC

Above his head, the Glitch timer was counting down quickly from ten.

From Literature

He found that ratios in the middle of their historical distribution conveyed little information of value to a market timer; only extremely high or extremely low readings were worth following.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• timepiece
• wristwatch