measurement

American  

[mezh-er-muhnt] / ˈmɛʒ ər mənt /

noun

1. the act of measuring.

2. a measured dimension.

3. extent, size, etc., ascertained by measuring.

4. a system of measuring or measures.

   liquid measurement.

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measurement British  

/ ˈmɛʒəmənt /

noun

1. the act or process of measuring

2. an amount, extent, or size determined by measuring

3. a system of measures based on a particular standard

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measurement Scientific  

/ mĕzh′ər-mənt /

1. A method of determining quantity, capacity, or dimension. Several systems of measurement exist, each one comprising units whose amounts have been arbitrarily set and agreed upon by specific groups. While the United States Customary System remains the most commonly used system of measurement in the United States, the International System is accepted all over the world as the standard system for use in science.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-measurement
  noun
• remeasurement
  noun
• mismeasurement
  noun
• premeasurement
  noun

Etymology

Origin of measurement

First recorded in 1745–55; measure + -ment

Explanation

Taking a measurement involves figuring out how long something is or what it weighs or how fast it is. Measurements usually require something like a ruler or a stop watch. When you step on the scale to check your weight, you're getting a measurement. When you pull out a ruler and measure a piece of paper, you're making a measurement. Astronomers make measurements of how far away other planets and stars are. In the Olympics, a timer does a measurement of who's fastest, to see who won a race. Anytime you're using a measuring device to come up with a number for something, you're taking a measurement.

Example Sentences

All that enthusiasm has resulted in skyrocketing costs for so-called tokens, the basic unit of measurement for AI computing, as AI model providers seek to balance supply and demand and manage their own costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

But by the battleground measurement, it obviously shouldn’t be South Carolina.

From Slate • May 26, 2026

Our measurement, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters, shows a tension of four standard deviations from the expectations of the Standard Model.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

Researchers first collected about 20 continuous hours of observations to establish a baseline measurement of the star's light.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

Then I would need to arrange for accurate measurement of both the divalent metals and the DNA content.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Related Words

• amount
• analysis
• appraisal
• assessment
• density
• dimension
• evaluation
• frequency
• height
• measure
• size
• survey
• weight