measure
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈmɛʒ.ə/
ipa: /ˈmɛʒ.ɚ/
ipa: /ˈmeɪ.ʒɚ/
ipa: /ˈmɪ.ʒɚ/
ipa: /ˈmeʒ.ə/
ipa: /ˈmeʒ.ə/
ipa: /ˈmeɪ.ʒə/
ipa: /ˈmɛʃʊɹ/
rhymes: -ɛʒə(ɹ)
Forms: form: measures
form: measuring
form: measured
form: measured
Etymology: From Middle English mesure, from Old French mesure, from Latin mēnsūra (“a measure”), mētior (“to measure”, supine stem in mēns-) + -tūra. Largely displaced native Old English metan ("to measure" whence modern mete) and ġemet (“a measure”).
Senses: examples: text: We measured the temperature with a thermometer. You should measure the angle with a spirit level.
text: This park is the first large-scale public park in Taiwan. It is located on the border of Nantzu District in Kaohsiung City and Chiaotou village, Kaohsiung County and this park measures 95 hectares.
ref: 2003, An Outline of Interior Affairs, Republic of China, 2003, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 114:
text: But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 (the average of the 15 poorest countries’ own poverty lines, measured in 2005 dollars and adjusted for differences in purchasing power): people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.
ref: 2013 June 1, “Towards the end of poverty”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 11:
synonyms: take
glosses: To ascertain the quantity of a unit of material via calculated comparison with respect to a standard.
examples: text: The window measured two square feet.
glosses: To be of (a certain size), to have (a certain measurement)
examples: text: I measure that at 10 centimetres.
glosses: To estimate the unit size of something.
examples: text: ſince they meaſure our deſerts so meane,
That in conceit beare Empires on our ſpeares,
Affecting thoughts coequall with the cloudes,
They ſhalbe kept our forced followers,
Til with their eies they view vs Emperours.
ref: c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
text: Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite / Thy power! what thought can measure thee?
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
glosses: To judge, value, or appraise.
glosses: To obtain or set apart; to mark in even increments.
examples: text: A true devoted pilgrim is not weary / To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps.
ref: c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:
text: "And for a very sensible reason; there never was but one like her; or, that is, I have always thought so until to-day," replied the tar, glancing toward Natalie; "for my old eyes have seen pretty much everything they have got in this little world. Ha! I should like to see the inch of land or water that my foot hasn't measured."
ref: 1859, Ferna Vale, Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds:
glosses: To traverse, cross, pass along; to travel over.
examples: text: To secure a contented spirit, you must measure your desires by your fortune and condition, not your fortunes by your desires
ref: 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:
glosses: To adjust by a rule or standard.
examples: text: With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 7:2:
text: That portion of eternity which is called time, measured out by the sun.
ref: 1711 September 12 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “SATURDAY, September 1, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 159; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
glosses: To allot or distribute by measure; to set off or apart by measure; often with.
raw_tags: with out or off
examples: text: To measure one’s own activity, to make it conform to these standards of clearness, brevity and truth, is practically a very difficult matter.
ref: 1912, A. Everett George, The Montessori Method, Frederick A. Stokes Co., translation of original by Maria Montessori, page 110:
text: In its opening portrait of Madame Caillaux, the rightist and anti-Caillaux Illustration asked its readers to imagine not a wronged victim or a female ruled by emotion but a careful player who measured her every word.
ref: 1992, Edward Berenson, The Trial of Madame Caillaux, Univ of California Press, →ISBN, page 17:
text: He measured his actions with a critical eye and was an exemplary citizen and householder. He was, the author explained, a simple, good man, and like all simple, good men he had an ideal […]
ref: 2009 May 26, Demetra Tzanaki, Women and Nationalism in the Making of Modern Greece: The Founding of the Kingdom to the Greco-Turkish War, Springer, →ISBN, page 119:
glosses: To regulate or control (one's actions, speech, etc.), as if one were carefully measuring their length or quantity.
Derived terms: commeasure
dick-measuring contest
immeasurate
measurable
measurage
measurement
measure off
measure one's length
measure out
measurer
measure strength
measure swords
measure swords with
measure swords with someone
measure the drapes
measure twice and cut once
measure up
measuring cup
measuring cylinder
measuring jug
measuring rod
measuring spoon
measuring tape
measuring worm
mismeasure
outmeasure
overmeasure
remeasure
time-delay measuring instrument
time-delay measuring system
undermeasure