Definition
Minute hand
The minute hand is the clock hand that shows progress through the minutes.
What it means
This hand moves around the whole clock in 60 minutes. On a standard numbered clock, each step from one number to the next is 5 minutes, so you can count by fives to read it.
Remember it
Fast hand, count by fives.
Example
At 2:45, the minute hand points to 9 because 9 groups of 5 minutes make 45. The hour hand is between 2 and 3, so the complete time is 2:45.
Watch for
The minute hand is usually longer, but its one-hour turn and minute-reading job identify it—not length alone.
Common mix-up
When the minute hand points to 3, it means 15 minutes past the hour, not 3 minutes.
Exact meaning
On a standard analogue clock, the minute hand shows minutes past or to the hour and completes one full turn each hour.