gnomon noun. ['nǝʊmɒn] M16.
[French or Latin from Greek gnōmōn inspector, indicator, carpenter's square, from gnō-: see GNOME noun¹.]
1. A pillar, rod, etc., which shows the time of day by casting its shadow on a marked surface; esp. the pin or triangular plate of a sundial. M16.
b. A column etc. used in observing the meridian altitude of the sun. E17.

2. The nose. joc. L16-E19.

3. a. Geometry. The part of a parallelogram left after a similar parallelogram is taken away from one of its corners. L16.
b. gen. Something shaped like a carpenter's square; an L-shaped bar. M17-L18.

4. A guide, an indicator; an indicating instrument. L16-M18.

5. A rule, a canon of belief or action. Only in 17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲