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.
Idioms for 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
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
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
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
Last year, her group successfully helped push through a measure that made the sale of cat fur illegal in the country.
Will the Swiss Quit Cooking their Kittens and Puppies?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This measure is largely to protect children from the advertising of drugs, which many feel would normalize the experience.