anticlockwise
|an/ti/clock/wise|
/ˌæn.tiˈklɒk.waɪz/
opposite clock direction
Etymology
'anticlockwise' originates from English, specifically the prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'clockwise' referring to the direction of a clock's hands.
'anticlockwise' was formed in the 19th century by combining 'anti-' with 'clockwise' to describe motion opposite to the clock's hands.
Initially, it meant 'against the direction of a clock's hands,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
moving in the opposite direction to the way in which the hands of a clock move.
The dancers moved in an anticlockwise direction.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adverb 1
in a direction opposite to the rotation of the hands of a clock.
Turn the screw anticlockwise to loosen it.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/24 05:35