1. Plural of hourglass; devices for measuring time consisting of two glass bulbs connected by a narrow tube, with sand flowing from the upper to the lower bulb.
Usage: Commonly used in historical contexts or as decorative objects; also used metaphorically to represent the passage of time.

Examples

• The museum displayed several antique hourglasses from the 18th century.
• She flipped the hourglasses to time each round of the game.
• The decorative hourglasses on the shelf reminded him of how quickly time passes.
• Teachers sometimes use hourglasses in classrooms to help students manage their time during activities.
• The old hourglasses were filled with fine sand that took exactly one hour to fall.