Dial

1. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.
2. To survey with a dial.
3. A miner's compass.
4. To measure with a dial.
5. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.