measure

[ mezh-er ]
See synonyms for: measuremeasuredmeasuresmeasuring on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a unit or standard of measurement: weights and measures.

  2. a system of measurement: liquid measure.

  1. an instrument, as a graduated rod or a container of standard capacity, for measuring.

  2. the extent, dimensions, quantity, etc., of something, ascertained especially by comparison with a standard: to take the measure of a thing.

  3. the act or process of ascertaining the extent, dimensions, or quantity of something; measurement.

  4. a definite or known quantity measured out: to drink a measure of wine.

  5. any standard of comparison, estimation, or judgment.

  6. a quantity, degree, or proportion: in large measure.

  7. a moderate amount: to live with a measure of enjoyment.

  8. a limit, or an extent or degree not to be exceeded: to know no measure.

  9. reasonable bounds or limits: to know no measure.

  10. a legislative bill or enactment: The senate passed the new measure.

  11. Usually measures. actions or procedures intended as a means to an end: to take measures to avert suspicion.

  12. a short rhythmical movement or arrangement, as in poetry or music.: Compare meter2 (def. 1b).

  13. a particular kind of such arrangement.

  14. a metrical unit.

  15. Music.

    • the music contained between two bar lines; bar.

    • an air or melody.

    • a slow, dignified dance.

  16. Printing. the width, measured in ems or picas, to which a column or page of printed matter is set.

  17. measures, Geology. beds; strata.

  18. Mathematics. an abstraction of the property of length; a set function assigning to each set of a collection of sets a value, usually having the properties of sigma finiteness and finite additivity, the functional value of the whole collection being greater than zero.

verb (used with object),meas·ured, meas·ur·ing.
  1. to ascertain the extent, dimensions, quantity, capacity, etc., of, especially by comparison with a standard: to measure boundaries.

  2. to mark off or deal out by way of measurement (often followed by off or out): to measure out two cups of flour.

  1. to estimate the relative amount, value, etc., of, by comparison with some standard: to measure the importance of an issue.

  2. to judge or appraise by comparison with something or someone else: to measure Corneille against Racine.

  3. to serve as the measure of: Her sacrifices measure the degree of her love.

  4. to adjust or proportion: to measure a portion to one's liking.

  5. to bring into comparison or competition: to measure one's strength with another's.

  6. to travel over; traverse: to measure a room with great strides.

verb (used without object),meas·ured, meas·ur·ing.
  1. to take measurements.

  2. to admit of measurement.

  1. to be of a specified measure.

Verb Phrases
  1. measure up,

    • to reach a certain standard: The exhibition didn't measure up to last year's.

    • to be capable or qualified: As an administrator, he couldn't quite measure up.

Idioms about measure

  1. beyond measure, too much to be reckoned; immeasurably; extremely: The suffering that they endured was beyond measure.

  2. for good measure, as an extra: In addition to dessert, they served chocolates for good measure.

  1. have / take someone's measure, to judge or assess someone's character, capabilities, etc.; size up: During their conversation she was taking his measure as a prospective employee.

  2. in a / some measure, to some extent or degree: His conclusion is justified in some measure.

  3. measure one's length, to fall or be knocked down; fall flat: He missed a step in the dark and measured his length at the bottom.

  4. measure swords,

    • to test one's preparedness for a contest or encounter.

    • to battle with swords.

    • to fight, compete, etc.: The producer of the poorly reviewed show decided to measure swords with the critics.

Origin of measure

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mesure, from Middle French, from Latin mēnsūra, equivalent to mēns(us), past participle of mētīrī “to measure, mete” + -ūra -ure

Other words from measure

  • meas·ur·er, noun
  • in·ter·meas·ure, verb (used with object), in·ter·meas·ured, in·ter·meas·ur·ing.
  • mis·meas·ure, verb, mis·meas·ured, mis·meas·ur·ing.
  • outmeasure, verb (used with object), out·meas·ured, out·meas·ur·ing.
  • pre·meas·ure, verb (used with object), pre·meas·ured, pre·meas·ur·ing.
  • re·meas·ure, verb (used with object), re·meas·ured, re·meas·ur·ing.
  • un·der·meas·ure, verb (used with object), un·der·meas·ured, un·der·meas·ur·ing, noun

Words Nearby measure

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use measure in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for measure

measure

/ (ˈmɛʒə) /


noun
  1. the extent, quantity, amount, or degree of something, as determined by measurement or calculation

  2. a device for measuring distance, volume, etc, such as a graduated scale or container

  1. a system of measurement: give the size in metric measure

  2. a standard used in a system of measurements: the international prototype kilogram is the measure of mass in SI units

  3. a specific or standard amount of something: a measure of grain; short measure; full measure

  4. a basis or standard for comparison: his work was the measure of all subsequent attempts

  5. reasonable or permissible limit or bounds: we must keep it within measure

  6. degree or extent (often in phrases such as in some measure, in a measure, etc): they gave him a measure of freedom

  7. (often plural) a particular action intended to achieve an effect: they took measures to prevent his leaving

  8. a legislative bill, act, or resolution: to bring in a measure

  9. music another word for bar 1 (def. 15a)

  10. prosody poetic rhythm or cadence; metre

  11. a metrical foot

  12. poetic a melody or tune

  13. the act of measuring; measurement

  14. archaic a dance

  15. printing the width of a page or column of type

  16. for good measure as an extra precaution or beyond requirements

  17. get the measure of someone or get someone's measure to assess the nature, character, quality, etc, of someone

  18. made to measure (of clothes) made to fit an individual purchaser

verb
  1. (tr often foll by up) to determine the size, amount, etc, of by measurement

  2. (intr) to make a measurement or measurements

  1. (tr) to estimate or determine: I measured his strength to be greater than mine

  2. (tr) to function as a measurement of: the ohm measures electrical resistance

  3. (tr) to bring into competition or conflict: he measured his strength against that of his opponent

  4. (intr) to be as specified in extent, amount, etc: the room measures six feet

  5. (tr) to travel or move over as if measuring

  6. (tr) to adjust or choose: he measured his approach to suit the character of his client

  7. (intr) to allow or yield to measurement

Origin of measure

1
C13: from Old French, from Latin mēnsūra measure, from mēnsus, past participle of mētīrī to measure

Derived forms of measure

  • measurer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with measure

measure

In addition to the idiom beginning with measure

  • measure up

also see:

  • beyond measure
  • for good measure
  • in some measure
  • made to measure
  • take someone's measure

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.