■ noun
1》 the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole.
2》 a point of ~ as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.
↘the favourable or appropriate moment to do something: it was ~ to go.
↘( a ~ ) an indefinite period.
↘(also ~s ) a period characterized by particular events or circumstances: Victorian ~s.
↘( one's ~ ) a period regarded as characteristic of a particular stage of one's life.
↘the length of ~ taken to run a race or complete an activity.
↘ informal a prison sentence.
↘an apprenticeship.
3》 ~ as allotted, available, or used: a waste of ~.
4》 an instance of something happening or being done: the nurse came in four ~s a day.
5》 the normal rate of pay for ~ spent working: they are paid ~ and a half.
6》 Brit. the moment at which the opening hours of a pub end.
↘ Baseball & American Football a moment at which play stops temporarily within a game.
7》 the rhythmic pattern or tempo of a piece of music.
8》 ( ~s ) (following a number) expressing multiplication.
■ verb
1》 arrange a ~ for.
↘perform at a particular ~.
2》 measure the ~ taken by.
3》 ( ~ something out ) (of a computer or a program) cancel an operation automatically because a predefined interval of ~ has passed.
Phrases
about ~ used to convey that something should have happened earlier.
all the ~ at all ~s.
↘very frequently or regularly.
at a ~ separately in the specified groups or numbers: he took the stairs two at a ~.
behind the ~s not aware of or using the latest ideas or techniques.
for the ~ being until some other arrangement is made.
have no ~ for be unable or unwilling to spend ~ on.
↘disapprove of.
in ~
1》 not late.
2》 eventually.
3》 in accordance with the appropriate musical rhythm or tempo.
keep good (or bad ) ~
1》 (of a clock or watch) record ~ accurately (or inaccurately).
2》 be habitually punctual (or not punctual).
keep ~ play or rhythmically accompany music in ~.
on ~ punctual; punctually.
pass the ~ of day exchange greetings or casual remarks.
~ immemorial a ~ in the distant past beyond recall or knowledge.
the ~ of one's life a period or occasion of exceptional enjoyment.
~ out of mind another way of saying ~ immemorial .
~ will tell the truth about something will be established in the future.
Origin
OE tīma , of Gmc origin; related to tide , which it superseded in temporal senses.