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   Meas·ure

   /ˈmeZHər/

   

   verb

   • 1. ascertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units or by comparing it with an object of known size: "the amount of water collected is measured in pints" Similar take the measurements ofcalculatecomputeestimatecountmeterquantifyweighsizeevaluaterateassessappraisegaugeplumbmeasure outdeterminejudgesurveyOpposite guessestimate
   • ▪ be of (a specified size or degree): "the fabric measures 45 inches wide"
   • ▪ ascertain the size and proportions of (someone) in order to make or provide clothes for them: "he will be measured for his tuxedo next week"
   • ▪ take an exact quantity or fixed amount of something: "she helped to measure out the ingredients"
   • 2. estimate or assess the extent, quality, value, or effect of (something): "it is hard to measure teaching ability" Similar choose carefullyselect with careconsiderthink carefully aboutplancalculate
   • ▪ judge someone or something by comparison with (a certain standard): "she did not need to measure herself against some ideal" Similar compare withcontrast withput into competition withpitsetmatchtestjudge
   • ▪ reach the required or expected standard; fulfill expectations: "I'm afraid we didn't measure up to the standards they set"
   • ▪ scrutinize (someone) keenly in order to form an assessment of them: "the two shook hands and silently measured each other up"
   • 3. travel over (a certain distance or area): archaic "we must measure twenty miles today"

   noun

   • 1. a plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose: "cost-cutting measures" Similar actionactcoursecourse of actiondeedproceedingprocedurestepmeansexpedientmaneuverinitiativeprogramoperationcontrollegal action
   • ▪ a legislative bill: "the Senate passed the measure by a 48–30 vote" Similar statuteactbilllawlegislation
   • ▪ punishment or retribution imposed or inflicted on someone: archaic "Sir Walter had hard measure dealt out to him by his vain and weak sovereign"
   • 2. a standard unit used to express the size, amount, or degree of something: "a furlong is an obsolete measure of length" Similar systemstandardunitsscale
   • ▪ a system or scale of standard measuring units: "the original dimensions were in imperial measure" Similar statuteactbilllawlegislation
   • ▪ a particular amount of something: "a measure of egg white as a binding agent"
   • ▪ a standard official amount of an alcoholic drink as served in a licensed establishment: "heavy drinking may be five measures of spirits per day" Similar portionquantityamountquotarationallowanceallocation
   • ▪ a container of standard capacity used for taking fixed amounts of a substance: "gifts have included silver measures from a whiskey company"
   • ▪ a graduated rod or tape used for ascertaining the size of something: "most schools had only metric measures available" Similar rulertape measurerulegaugemeterscalelevelyardstick
   • ▪ a quantity contained in another an exact number of times; a divisor.
   • ▪ the width of a full line of type or print, typically expressed in picas.
   • 3. a certain quantity or degree of something: "the states retain a large measure of independence" Similar certain amountamountdegreequantity
   • ▪ an indication or means of assessing the degree, extent, or quality of something: "it was a measure of the team's problems that they were still working after 2 a.m." Similar yardstickteststandardnormbarometertouchstonelitmus testcriterionbenchmark
   • 4. the rhythm of a piece of poetry or a piece of music. Similar metercadencerhythmfoot
   • ▪ a particular metrical unit or group: "measures of two or three syllables are more frequent in English prose"
   • ▪ any of the sections, typically of equal time value, into which a musical composition is divided, shown on a score by vertical lines across the staff; bar. North American
   • ▪ a dance, typically one that is grave or stately: archaic "now tread we a measure!" Similar dancestepcaperhop
   • 5. a group of rock strata.

   Word Origin Middle English (as a noun in the senses ‘moderation’, ‘instrument for measuring’, ‘unit of capacity’): from Old French mesure, from Latin mensura, from mens- ‘measured’, from the verb metiri.

   Derivatives

   • 1. measurer noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

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