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 told time, simple past and past participle told time)
- to measure time, to determine the current time
- Synonym: keep time
- Ancient civilizations told time at night by the passage of stars.
- (specifically) to read the time as displayed on a clock
- He couldn't tell time until he was in his teens.
Translations
to measure time
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to read a clock
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