common measure

American  

[kom-uhn mezh-er] / ˈkɒm ən ˈmɛʒ ər /

noun

1. common time.

2. Also called common meter;.  Also called hymnal stanza.  Prosody. a ballad stanza of four iambic lines and strict rhymes, often used in hymns, rhyming abcb or abab.

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common measure British  

noun

1. another term for common time

2. the usual stanza form of a ballad, consisting of four iambic lines rhyming a b c b or a b a b

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Etymology

Origin of common measure

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

On Tuesday, Cox Automotive released External link the latest Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, a common measure of used car pricing.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

London-based investment firm Ruffer sees more upside in listed Chinese tech giants because their price-to-earnings ratios—a common measure of how pricey a stock is—are lower than U.S. peers such as Google parent Alphabet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

The most common measure being taken is collaborating with law enforcement, she said, but some polling places have installed panic buttons, bullet-resistant glass panels or electronic security measures.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2024

Though testosterone is now a common measure, there is continued disagreement over its validity.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2024

More than three thousand of those children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common measure of poverty within a school system.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove