French word

cadran

Pronunciation

IPA/kadʁɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwatch face

Example

Le cadran de la montre est cassé.

The watch face is broken.

Illustration for cadran (watch face)

More examples

J'ai rayé le cadran de ma montre.

I scratched the face of my watch.

Core concept

The visible front of a watch, clock, or measuring device, combining fixed markings with a moving indicator.

Common phrases

  • le cadran de la montre

    watch face

  • le cadran de l'horloge

    clock face

Similar words

écran: A flat surface for displaying images or text.
afficheur: An electronic display device that shows numbers or other information.
compteur: An instrument that shows usage or counts numerically.
molette: A small round knob turned by hand to operate machinery or adjust settings.

Definition in French

Surface munie de graduations ou de chiffres sur un appareil (montre, horloge, instrument de mesure) servant à la lecture visuelle d'une valeur.

Word origin

The historical link is Latin quadrans, meaning a quarter; medieval French applied the term to a graduated clock or instrument face beyond its original quarter-circle sense.

Usage tips

  • For a device's turning control, French often uses bouton or molette rather than cadran, depending on the control's shape and function.

Other meanings

  • dialnoun

Word lists with this word