·noun A miner's compass.
II. Dial ·vt To survey with a dial.
III. Dial ·vt To measure with a dial.
IV. Dial ·noun The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.
V. Dial ·noun 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.