time*/*/*/

[taɪm] noun I

1) [U] the quantity that is measured in minutes, hours, days, years etc

Einstein tried to define the relationship between space and time.[/ex]

Time seemed to pass more quickly than before.[/ex]

2) [singular/U] the hours, minutes etc as shown on a clock

Do you know what time it is?[/ex]

What time does the show start?[/ex]

Can your daughter tell the time yet (= is she able to say what time is shown on a clock)?[/ex]

3) [C/U] a particular period of minutes, hours, days, years etc

She thought about it for a long time.[/ex]

She left a short time ago.[/ex]

How much time did it take to get here?[/ex]

I've been thinking of changing my job for some time (= for a fairly long time).[/ex]

There have been improvements in the length of time patients have to wait for treatment.[/ex]

4) [C] an occasion on which you do something or on which something happens

It was the first time we'd met.[/ex]

The next time you need financial advice, come and see me.[/ex]

Did you have a good time at camp?[/ex]

5) [singular/U] the moment or situation when something happens

I was still living with my parents at that time.[/ex]

By the time we arrived, the other guests were already there.[/ex]

When would be a good time to discuss the proposal?[/ex]

It seemed like the right time to make the change.[/ex]

6) [U] the particular point when something should happen

Is it closing time already?[/ex]

Come on, everyone. It's time for dinner.[/ex]

Did your plane arrive on time?[/ex]

It's time you children went to bed.[/ex]

7) [U] time that you have available for doing something in

She will have less time to spend with family and friends now.[/ex]

Come and see me next week, if you get the time.[/ex]

I should be able to find time to phone him tomorrow.[/ex]

8) [C] a period in history or in someone's life

The fort was built in Roman times.[/ex]

a time of political instability[/ex]

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a teacher.[/ex]

9) [C] the amount of time that someone takes to finish a race

She's cut two seconds off her previous best time.[/ex]

•

about time — 1) spokenused for showing that you are annoyed because something has happened later than it should[/ex]

Here they are, and about time too.[/ex]

— 2) used for saying that someone should do something soon

Isn't it about time we got a new car?[/ex]

ahead of time — at an earlier time than people expected[/ex]

ahead of your/its etc time — much more modern or advanced than most other people or things[/ex]

As an artist, he was years ahead of his time.[/ex]

all the time — 1) often[/ex]

It's a very good restaurant. We go there all the time.[/ex]

— 2) continuously

It rained all the time they were there.[/ex]

at a time — used for saying how many things there are in each group or on each occasion[/ex]

Deal with each question separately, one at a time.[/ex]

at all times — formal always[/ex]

Please keep your bags with you at all times.[/ex]

at one time — in the past, but not now[/ex]

At one time, that kind of thing would have made me really angry.[/ex]

at times — sometimes but not often[/ex]

She was fun to be with at times.[/ex]

before your time — used for saying that you are too young to remember something[/ex]

These styles were a bit before my time.[/ex]

for days/weeks etc at a time — continuously for a period of several days/weeks etc[/ex]

for the time being — at the present time, but not permanently[/ex]

from time to time — sometimes, but not often[/ex]

have no time for — to dislike someone or something[/ex]

in no time (at all); in next to no time — very soon or very quickly[/ex]

in time — 1) early enough to do something[/ex]

I want to be home in time for dinner.[/ex]

We got to the airport just in time.[/ex]

in time to do sth Luckily, they got there in time to warn him about what had happened.[/ex]

— 2) after a fairly long period of time

He'll forget about it in time.[/ex]

most of the time — usually, or very often[/ex]

of all time — used for talking about people or things that are better than all others that have existed[/ex]

the greatest boxer of all time[/ex]

take your time — 1) to spend too much time doing something[/ex]

They're taking their time over that report, aren't they?[/ex]

— 2) spokenused for telling someone that they do not need to hurry

You don't have to do everything at once. Just take your time.[/ex]

time after time; time and again — happening so often that you become annoyed[/ex]

See:

best,

for,

hard I

II

verb [T]

time [taɪm]

1) to arrange something so that it happens at a particular time

The exhibition has been timed to coincide with the publication of her new book.[/ex]

2) to use a clock to measure how long something takes or how often something happens

a simple device for timing the human heartbeat[/ex]