coordinated universal time
- noun
- /ˈkɔːrdɪneɪtɪd ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsl taɪm/
- Specialized
:
tiempo universal coordinado
- Note that the date of the activity is given as a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) value, so you'd have to adjust it to your local time.
Examples
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The meeting is set for 3 PM coordinated universal time, which is 10 AM in New York.
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The options are to either synchronize Moon time with the Coordinated Universal Time or to give the Moon its own time zone.
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All flight schedules are displayed in coordinated universal time to ensure passengers know the exact departure times.
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To avoid confusion, make sure to convert all times into coordinated universal time before planning your event.
Synonyms
62
4.0
The global time standard used to keep clocks the same everywhere
Surface Forms
Morphology
coordinated + universal + time
The meaning is a direct combination of 'coordinated' (arranged together), 'universal' (applying everywhere), and 'time' (measurement of moments), so a learner who knows these words can infer it refers to a standardized/global time system. Although it is a technical term, its sense is compositional and widespread across languages (e.g., Spanish 'Tiempo Universal Coordinado'), making it immediately understandable.
Etymology
Coordinated universal time gets its name from the idea of many clocks being set together for the whole world: coordinated means the clocks are set to agree and universal means 'for everyone'. Scientists use very accurate atomic clocks and sometimes add small extra seconds so the time keeps matching the Earth's spin, so coordinated universal time is the single time people use for schedules around the world.