measure

[ mezh-er ]

noun

1. a unit or standard of measurement:

   weights and measures.

2. a system of measurement:

   liquid measure.

3. an instrument, as a graduated rod or a container of standard capacity, for measuring.
4. the extent, dimensions, quantity, etc., of something, ascertained especially by comparison with a standard:

   to take the measure of a thing.

5. the act or process of ascertaining the extent, dimensions, or quantity of something; measurement.
6. a definite or known quantity measured out:

   to drink a measure of wine.

7. any standard of comparison, estimation, or judgment.
8. a quantity, degree, or proportion:

   in large measure.

9. a moderate amount:

   to live with a measure of enjoyment.

10. a limit, or an extent or degree not to be exceeded:

    to know no measure.

11. reasonable bounds or limits:

    to know no measure.

12. a legislative bill or enactment:

    The senate passed the new measure.

13. Usually measures. actions or procedures intended as a means to an end:

    to take measures to avert suspicion.

14. a short rhythmical movement or arrangement, as in poetry or music. Compare meter ²( def 1b ).
15. a particular kind of such arrangement.
16. a metrical unit.
17. Music.
    1. the music contained between two bar lines; bar.
    2. an air or melody.
    3. a slow, dignified dance.
18. Printing. the width, measured in ems or picas, to which a column or page of printed matter is set.
19. measures, Geology. beds; strata.
20. 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.

3. to estimate the relative amount, value, etc., of, by comparison with some standard:

   to measure the importance of an issue.

4. to judge or appraise by comparison with something or someone else:

   to measure Corneille against Racine.

5. to serve as the measure of:

   Her sacrifices measure the degree of her love.

6. to adjust or proportion:

   to measure a portion to one's liking.

7. to bring into comparison or competition:

   to measure one's strength with another's.

8. 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.
3. to be of a specified measure.

verb phrase

1. 1. to reach a certain standard:

      The exhibition didn't measure up to last year's.

   2. to be capable or qualified:

      As an administrator, he couldn't quite measure up.

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
3. a system of measurement

   give the size in metric measure

4. a standard used in a system of measurements

   the international prototype kilogram is the measure of mass in SI units

5. a specific or standard amount of something

   a measure of grain

   full measure

   short measure

6. a basis or standard for comparison

   his work was the measure of all subsequent attempts

7. reasonable or permissible limit or bounds

   we must keep it within measure

8. degree or extent (often in phrases such as in some measure, in a measure, etc)

   they gave him a measure of freedom

9. often plural a particular action intended to achieve an effect

   they took measures to prevent his leaving

10. a legislative bill, act, or resolution

    to bring in a measure

11. music another word for bar 1
12. prosody poetic rhythm or cadence; metre
13. a metrical foot
14. poetic.
    a melody or tune
15. the act of measuring; measurement
16. archaic.
    a dance
17. printing the width of a page or column of type
18. for good measure
    for good measure as an extra precaution or beyond requirements
19. get the measure of someone
    get the measure of someoneget someone's measure to assess the nature, character, quality, etc, of someone
20. made to measure
    made to measure (of clothes) made to fit an individual purchaser

verb

1. troften foll byup to determine the size, amount, etc, of by measurement
2. intr to make a measurement or measurements
3. tr to estimate or determine

   I measured his strength to be greater than mine

4. tr to function as a measurement of

   the ohm measures electrical resistance

5. tr to bring into competition or conflict

   he measured his strength against that of his opponent

6. intr to be as specified in extent, amount, etc

   the room measures six feet

7. tr to travel or move over as if measuring
8. tr to adjust or choose

   he measured his approach to suit the character of his client

9. intr to allow or yield to measurement

Derived Forms

• ˈmeasurer, noun

Other Words From

• measur·er noun
• inter·measure verb (used with object) intermeasured intermeasuring
• mis·measure verb mismeasured mismeasuring
• outmeasure verb (used with object) outmeasured outmeasuring
• pre·measure verb (used with object) premeasured premeasuring
• re·measure verb (used with object) remeasured remeasuring
• under·measure verb (used with object) undermeasured undermeasuring noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of measure¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of measure¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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.

3. 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.

4. in a / some measure, to some extent or degree:

   His conclusion is justified in some measure.

5. 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.

6. measure swords,
   1. to test one's preparedness for a contest or encounter.
   2. to battle with swords.
   3. to fight, compete, etc.:

      The producer of the poorly reviewed show decided to measure swords with the critics.

More idioms and phrases containing measure

In addition to the idiom beginning with measure , also see beyond measure ; for good measure ; in some measure ; made to measure ; take someone's measure .

Example Sentences

By some measures, such as the number of people on job retention schemes, the US looks like it’s on a different planet.

From Quartz

The District of Columbia, home to only around 700,000 residents, actually leads the way by that measure.

From 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.

From 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.

From Fortune

It was vastly more expensive than had the City Council just placed a measure on the ballot.

From Voice of San Diego

Taraji manages to bring an equal measure of truth to the mother in her character.

From The Daily Beast

But the inability to measure progress in the ISIS campaign is widespread.

From The Daily Beast

With that, there is no means to consistently measure progress.

From The Daily Beast

There would, then, likely be significant police resistance to this measure.

From The 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.

From The 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.

From Project Gutenberg

(p. 054) At this period it appears that tobacco was used as money, and as the measure of price and value.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only have its fundamental principles been fully vindicated but in most details the working of the measure has been successful.

From Project Gutenberg

The alternate hexameter and pentameter are, for most purposes, a more agreeable measure than the hexameter by itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The early recognition of pictured objects, of which certain animals have a measure, is often strikingly discerning.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adjust
• assess
• average
• calibrate
• check
• compute
• determine
• estimate
• evaluate
• fit
• gauge
• limit
• mark
• peg
• quantify
• rank
• regulate
• survey
• weigh