Telling Time Glossary

This glossary covers the key terms parents, teachers, and kids encounter when learning to tell time. Whether you're teaching analog clocks, explaining AM and PM, or helping a child understand elapsed time, these definitions will help. Looking for answers to common questions? Visit our FAQ or learn more about how I Can Tell Time works.

Analog Clock

An analog clock displays time using rotating hour and minute hands on a numbered circular face, as opposed to showing digits.

Digital Clock

A digital clock displays the time as numbers (e.g., 3:45) rather than using hands on a clock face.

Clock Face

The clock face (or dial) is the circular surface of an analog clock that displays the numbers 1 through 12 and the marks for minutes.

Hour Hand

The hour hand is the shorter, thicker hand on an analog clock that points to the current hour.

Minute Hand

The minute hand is the longer, thinner hand on an analog clock that indicates the current minutes past the hour.

O'Clock

O'clock refers to exact hour times (like 3:00 or 7:00) when the minute hand points to 12 and the hour hand points directly at a number.

Half Past

Half past (or half hour) means 30 minutes after the hour, shown on an analog clock when the minute hand points to 6.

Quarter Hour

A quarter hour is 15 minutes. 'Quarter past' means 15 minutes after the hour, and 'quarter to' means 15 minutes before the next hour.

AM and PM

AM (ante meridiem) refers to the 12 hours from midnight to noon, and PM (post meridiem) refers to the 12 hours from noon to midnight.

Elapsed Time

Elapsed time is the amount of time that passes between a start time and an end time.

Telling Time

Telling time is the ability to read and interpret the current time from a clock, whether analog or digital.

COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)

COPPA is a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of children under 13 by requiring parental consent before collecting personal information from children.