chronograph

/ˌkrɑnəˈgræf/

Other forms: chronographs

A chronograph is a device for measuring time. But before you say "so, a clock?" be aware that it's a little bit more specific than that.

A chronograph is not just used to tell you what time it is; it's used to measure time with great precision. Think stopwatch, not grandfather clock. Chronographs are used in sports like racing, where a one-second time difference could be what decides whether you've won or lost. They're also useful in astronomy, where it's extremely important to record what time a particular observation occurs down to the last second.

Definitions of chronograph

1. noun

   a device for recording time with great precision
   type of:

   timer

   a timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end