pendulum clock
1
4.9
- noun
- /ˈpɛndjʊləm klɒk/
:
reloj de péndulo
- But pendulum clocks that kept excellent time when hanging on a motionless wall were hopelessly inaccurate when carried over rough terrain or on a pitching ship.
Examples
-
Every hour, the pendulum clock chimed loudly, captivating everyone in the house.
-
A pendulum clock in an oak case silently counted the seconds.
Fiction book (1990) -
A walnut pendulum clock ticked loudly on the wall.
Fiction book (1991) -
By 1660, Dutch astronomer Christian Huygens had perfected the pendulum clock.
Academic text (2002) -
My grandfather's pendulum clock is still accurate after many years of use.
-
The antique shop displayed a beautiful pendulum clock that added charm to the room.
How Accurate
- Specialized
5
4.3
1
4.9
45
4.5
- Archaic
11
4.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a clock that is regulated and kept accurate by a swinging pendulum' is directly derivable from combining 'pendulum' (a weight that swings) with 'clock' (a timekeeping device); a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a clock using a swinging weight for regulation. The noun+noun compositional pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner familiar with the constituents will readily understand the term.
Etymology
The compound noun pendulum clock comes from a simple picture: a pendulum is a weight that swings back and forth and its steady movement makes the clock tick at a steady beat. That's why pendulum clock means 'a clock that keeps accurate time by using a swinging pendulum'.