The Collaborative International Dictionary
Dial \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]
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.
The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.
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A miner's compass.
Dial bird (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bird ( Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species.
Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated.
Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.
Usage examples of "dial lock".
Danestar drew the instrument valise quietly toward her, opened its dial lock and took out the ovoid alien device and a small gun lying in the valise beside it.
Each filing cabinet had a built-in dial lock like the type normally found on a heavy-duty safe.
It was locked by a dial lock, but that was no bar to me who had been entrusted with its secret years ago.