measure

[ mezh-er ]

/ ˈmɛʒ ər /

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See synonyms for: measure / measured / measures / measuring on Thesaurus.com

noun

a unit or standard of measurement: weights and measures.

a system of measurement: liquid measure.

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

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

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

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

any standard of comparison, estimation, or judgment.

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

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

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

reasonable bounds or limits: to know no measure.

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

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

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

a particular kind of such arrangement.

a metrical unit.

Music.

the music contained between two bar lines; bar.
an air or melody.
a slow, dignified dance.

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

measures, Geology. beds; strata.

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.

to ascertain the extent, dimensions, quantity, capacity, etc., of, especially by comparison with a standard: to measure boundaries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

verb (used without object), meas·ured, meas·ur·ing.

to take measurements.

to admit of measurement.

to be of a specified measure.

Verb Phrases

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.

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Idioms about measure

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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, nounin·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

measle, measled, measles, measly, measurable, measure, measured, measured daywork, Measure for Measure, measureless, measurement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use measure in a sentence

By some measures, such as the number of people on job retention schemes, the US looks like it’s on a different planet.
Job markets in the US and Europe are surprisingly similar|Dan Kopf|September 16, 2020|Quartz
The District of Columbia, home to only around 700,000 residents, actually leads the way by that measure.
How much coronavirus relief funding has gone to your state?|reymashayekhi|September 16, 2020|Fortune
It’s a measure of how likely it is that I would by accident find a difference as big as the one I found here.
Build ice towers with bottled water and ice|Bethany Brookshire|September 16, 2020|Science News For Students
Ukraine ranked first worldwide on Chainalysis’s Global Crypto Adoption Index, which includes measures of cryptocurrency value received, exchanged, and deposited.
Eastern Europe leads the world in cryptocurrency adoption—legal and otherwise|dzanemorris|September 14, 2020|Fortune

It was vastly more expensive than had the City Council just placed a measure on the ballot.
Politics Report: Forged Footnote 15|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|September 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Taraji manages to bring an equal measure of truth to the mother in her character.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist|Judnick Mayard|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the inability to measure progress in the ISIS campaign is widespread.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With that, there is no means to consistently measure progress.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There would, then, likely be significant police resistance to this measure.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A petition has been delivered in Nevada that will put a similar measure to the one in Washington on the ballot in 2016.
The Gun Battle Since Newtown|Cliff Schecter|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet if there is a measure of untruth in such pretty flatteries, one needs to be superhuman in order to condemn them harshly.
Children's Ways|James Sully
(p. 054) At this period it appears that tobacco was used as money, and as the measure of price and value.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Not only have its fundamental principles been fully vindicated but in most details the working of the measure has been successful.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
The alternate hexameter and pentameter are, for most purposes, a more agreeable measure than the hexameter by itself.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
The early recognition of pictured objects, of which certain animals have a measure, is often strikingly discerning.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for measure

measure

/ (ˈmɛʒə) /

noun

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

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

a system of measurementgive the size in metric measure

a standard used in a system of measurementsthe international prototype kilogram is the measure of mass in SI units

a specific or standard amount of somethinga measure of grain; short measure; full measure

a basis or standard for comparisonhis work was the measure of all subsequent attempts

reasonable or permissible limit or boundswe must keep it within measure

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

(often plural) a particular action intended to achieve an effectthey took measures to prevent his leaving

a legislative bill, act, or resolutionto bring in a measure

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

prosody poetic rhythm or cadence; metre

a metrical foot

poetic a melody or tune

the act of measuring; measurement

archaic a dance

printing the width of a page or column of type

for good measure as an extra precaution or beyond requirements

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

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

verb

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

(intr) to make a measurement or measurements

(tr) to estimate or determineI measured his strength to be greater than mine

(tr) to function as a measurement ofthe ohm measures electrical resistance

(tr) to bring into competition or conflicthe measured his strength against that of his opponent

(intr) to be as specified in extent, amount, etcthe room measures six feet

(tr) to travel or move over as if measuring

(tr) to adjust or choosehe measured his approach to suit the character of his client

(intr) to allow or yield to measurement

Derived forms of measure

measurer, noun

Word Origin for measure

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

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

measure

Idioms about measure

Origin of measure

OTHER WORDS FROM measure

Words nearby measure

Words related to measure

How to use measure in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for measure

Derived forms of measure

Word Origin for measure

Other Idioms and Phrases with measure