dimension

[dih-men-shuhn, dahy-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dimension ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Mathematics.

a property of space; extension in a given direction: A straight line has one dimension, a parallelogram has two dimensions, and a parallelepiped has three dimensions.
the generalization of this property to spaces with curvilinear extension, as the surface of a sphere.
the generalization of this property to vector spaces and to Hilbert space.
the generalization of this property to fractals, which can have dimensions that are noninteger real numbers.
extension in time: Space-time has three dimensions of space and one of time.

Usually dimensions.

measurement in length, width, and thickness.
scope; importance: the dimensions of a problem.

unit(def 6).

magnitude; size: Matter has dimension.

Topology.

a magnitude that, independently or in conjunction with other such magnitudes, serves to define the location of an element within a given set, as of a point on a line, an object in a space, or an event in space-time.
the number of elements in a finite basis of a given vector space.

Physics. any of a set of basic kinds of quantity, as mass, length, and time, in terms of which all other kinds of quantity can be expressed; usually denoted by capital letters, with appropriate exponents, placed in brackets: The dimensions of velocity are [LT−1].Compare dimensional analysis.

dimensions, Informal. the measurements of a woman's bust, waist, and hips, in that order: The chorus girl's dimensions were 38-24-36.

dimension lumber.

verb (used with object)

to shape or fashion to the desired dimensions: Dimension the shelves so that they fit securely into the cabinet.

to indicate the dimensions of an item, area, etc., on (a sketch or drawing).

Origin of dimension

1375–1425; late Middle English dimensioun (< Anglo-French) < Latin dīmēnsiōn- (stem of dīmēnsiō) a measuring, equivalent to dīmēns(us) measured out (past participle of dīmētīrī, equivalent to dī- di-² + mētīrī to measure) + -iōn- -ion

Related formsdi·men·sion·al, adjectivedi·men·sion·al·i·ty, noundi·men·sion·al·ly, adverbdi·men·sion·less, adjectivemul·ti·di·men·sion·al, adjectivenon·di·men·sioned, adjectiveun·di·men·sioned, adjective

Synonyms for dimension

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dimension ON THESAURUS.COM

2b. range, extent, magnitude.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dimension

extent, importance, proportion, range, thickness, element, length, magnitude, aspect, scope, height, quality, size, bulk, volume, capacity, mass, time

Examples from the Web for dimension

Contemporary Examples of dimension

Trippy, echoing sound effects give “A Brain In A Bottle” a sense of fullness and dimension—as they do for “Guess Again!”
Newest Album From Radiohead’s Thom Yorke Is No Online Afterthought
Noel Murray
September 27, 2014
The premise involved a detective whose ability to stand on one leg allowed him entry into a bizarre second dimension.
Doomed Passion Projects of Hollywood: The Lost Classics of Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, and More
Marlow Stern
March 28, 2014
He also explains that from a higher mathematical vantage point, our dimension would seem less dimensional.
‘True Detective’ Episode 5 Review: ‘The Secret Fate of All Life’ is the Best Episode Yet
Andrew Romano
February 17, 2014
But my lack of care has the dimension of a confession because I feel bad about not caring.
A Confession on the Ninth of Av
Samuel Lebens
July 15, 2013
Alcohol abuse is a much bigger problem than cannabis abuse—in every dimension.
Meet Mark Kleiman, the Man Who Will Be Washington State’s Pot Czar
Abby Haglage
March 21, 2013

Historical Examples of dimension

The earth's interior, Dr. Shapley said, is the "third dimension" of geography.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930
Various
The mysteries of the Fourth Dimension they had already solved.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
Various
This, of course, is beyond your comprehension, since the Ninth Dimension is involved.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
Various
Detective, Fourth Dimension, and air adventure—only well done.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
Various
And Luga, was she lost to him in that no-man's land of a fourth dimension?
Melomaniacs
James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for dimension

dimension

noun

(often plural) a measurement of the size of something in a particular direction, such as the length, width, height, or diameter

(often plural) scope; size; extenta problem of enormous dimensions

aspecta new dimension to politics

maths the number of coordinates required to locate a point in space

physics

the product or the quotient of the fundamental physical quantities (such as mass, length, or time) raised to the appropriate power in a derived physical quantitythe dimensions of velocity are length divided by time
the power to which such a fundamental quantity has to be raised in a derived quantity

verb

(tr) mainly US

to shape or cut to specified dimensions
to mark with specified dimensions

Derived Formsdimensional, adjectivedimensionality, noundimensionally, adverbdimensionless, adjective

Word Origin for dimension

C14: from Old French, from Latin dīmensiō an extent, from dīmētīrī to measure out, from mētīrī

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

Word Origin and History for dimension

late 14c., "measurement, size," from Latin dimensionem (nominative dimensio) "a measuring," noun of action from past participle stem of dimetri "to measure out," from dis- (see dis-) + metiri "to measure" (see measure). Meaning "any component of a situation" is from 1929. Related: Dimensional; dimensions.

dimension in Medicine

dimension

[dĭ-mĕn′shən, dī-]

n.

A measure of spatial extent, especially width, height, or length.

Scope or magnitude.

dimension in Science

dimension

[dĭ-mĕn′shən]

Any one of the three physical or spatial properties of length, area, and volume. In geometry, a point is said to have zero dimension; a figure having only length, such as a line, has one dimension; a plane or surface, two dimensions; and a figure having volume, three dimensions. The fourth dimension is often said to be time, as in the theory of General Relativity. Higher dimensions can be dealt with mathematically but cannot be represented visually.
The measurement of a length, width, or thickness.

A unit, such as mass, time, or charge, associated with a physical quantity and used as the basis for other measurements, such as acceleration.