common measure

American  

[kom-uhn mezh-er] / ˈkɒm ən ˈmɛʒ ər /

noun

1. common time.

2. Also called common meter;, 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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

common measure

Without a common measure, investors can’t reliably identify the funds delivering the greatest social benefit per dollar—and reward them with more capital.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The stock has a beta—a common measure of volatility—of 2.3 over the past year, meaning it is more than twice as volatile as the broader market.

From Barron's ● Jan. 2, 2026

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

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