1. a device for measuring time consisting of two glass bulbs connected by a narrow neck, with sand flowing from the upper bulb to the lower one

1. having a shape that is narrow in the middle and wider at the top and bottom, like an hourglass

Examples

• The old hourglass on the shelf took exactly one hour for all the sand to fall through.
• She turned the hourglass over to time the cooking process.
• The antique hourglass was made of brass and glass.
• Her hourglass figure was accentuated by the fitted dress.
• The vase had an elegant hourglass shape.
• The teacher used an hourglass to time the students’ presentations.
• The hourglass silhouette was popular in 1950s fashion.