noun a miner's compass.
2. dial ·vt to survey with a dial.
3. dial ·vt to measure with a dial.
4. dial ·noun the graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.
5. dial ·noun an instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; ·esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. the style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.