timer
/ˈtaɪmɚ/ · ti·mer
noun
- A person or device that measures or records the passage of time. The coach used a timer to track each runner's lap.
- A mechanical or electronic instrument that counts down or up a set interval. She set the kitchen timer for ten minutes.
- An automatic function in electronic equipment that triggers an action after a predetermined period. The sprinkler system's timer activates every morning at six a.m.
Did you know? The first electric kitchen timer was introduced by General Electric in 1938, revolutionizing home cooking.