■ noun
1》 a period of time equal to a twenty-fourth part of a day and night and divided into 60 minutes.
2》 a time of day specified as an exact number of ~s from midnight or midday.
↘( ~s ) [with preceding numeral] a time so specified on the 24-~ clock.
3》 a period of time for or marked by a specific activity: leisure ~s.
↘a point in time: the shop is half-full even at this ~.
4》 ( ~s ) (in the Western (Latin) Church) a short service of psalms and prayers to be said at a particular time of day.
5》 Astronomy 15° of longitude or right ascension (one twenty-fourth part of a circle).
Phrases
on the ~
1》 at an exact ~, or on each ~, of the day or night.
2》 after a period of one ~.
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. ure , via L. from Gk hōra 'season, ~'.