Noun She felt equal measures of hope and fear. Their actions were motivated in large measure by a desire for revenge. An occasion like this calls for some measure of decorum. The meter is a measure of length. The dictionary includes a table of weights and measures. The legislature has passed a measure aimed at protecting consumers. The governor has proposed a number of cost-cutting measures. They were forced to resort to desperate measures. We need to take measures to protect ourselves. Verb using a ruler to measure a piece of paper an instrument for measuring air pressure mental abilities measured by IQ testing He's being measured for a new suit. His success cannot be measured solely on the basis of his popularity. The cloth measures 3 meters. The room measures 15 feet wide by 30 feet long. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
If passed, the measure legalizes possession of up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana and allows people 21 and older to grow two plants at home. Giacomo Bologna, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2022 The measure would urge all states to limit the non-criminal use of peyote to religious, ceremonial and cultural purposes only, as it is stated in the American Indian Religious Freedom Act amendments of 1994. Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 17 Sep. 2022 The measure sets up a framework for the first statewide water and sewer rate assistance program in the country, according to groups that sponsored the bill. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 The measure lifted from six to eight the number of votes on the 11-member body required to effect change. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 The measure was one of a list of additional sanctions and export controls the United States adopted on Thursday in relation to Russia. Jeanne Whalen, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Sep. 2022 The groups asked the judge to declare the ballot issue invalid or block its enforcement if the measure passes. Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 Apple says the measure is a useful indicator of overall body temperature, which can be used to detect changes in the baseline over a period of time to detect changes in your routine and even illness. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 15 Sep. 2022 After the measure failed to pass the NRB in February, the DNR was forced to abandon it. Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022
Verb
The Lab analysts also measure changes in skin's firmness before and after the same time period with the Cutometer machine, which gauges skin laxity. Danusia Wnek, Good Housekeeping, 16 Sep. 2022 The ratings only measure U.S. audiences, not those in other countries, and currently only include Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix and Prime Video. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2022 This rash is just one visible sign of inflammation, but a doctor can measure inflammatory markers in your blood, Benjamin Ungar, MD, an assistant professor in the department of dermatology of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tells SELF. Mara Santilli, SELF, 12 Sep. 2022 As of Tuesday morning, Earl’s maximum sustained winds measure in at 65 mph. Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 Modern online businesses measure performance in milliseconds—and can attach a dollar amount to them. Mehdi Daoudi, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 Other charts measure traditional and contemporary jazz, and traditional and crossover classical music, both together and in the more specific genres themselves. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2022 The monitors measure the outside temperature and alert trainers and coaches if the heat index gets too high and alterations to practice need to be made. Ethan Ehrenhaft, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2022 Typical ladders measure 15 feet and cover two stories of your home.oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English mesure "act of measuring, instrument for measuring, standard unit of quantity, size, measurable amount, proper proportion, moderation, tempurance," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin mensūra "act of measuring, dimension determined by measurement, amount, instrument for measuring," from mensus, past participle of mētior, mētīrī "to determine the extent of, mark off by measuring" + -ūra-ure; mētior verbal derivative of an Indo-European noun *meh1-ti- "act of measuring" (whence Old English mǣth "measure, degree, efficacy," Greek mêtis "measure, skill, craft," Sanskrit māti- "measure, correct understanding"), nominal derivative of a verbal base *meh1-, whence, as a reduplicated present, Sanskrit mímite "(s/he) measures, shares," Avestan framimaθā "(s/he) should arrange"
Note: The irregular past participle mensus, alongside a regular derivative mētītus only found in later classical texts, may have been formed by analogy with pensus, past participle of pendere "to weigh."
Verb
Middle English mesuren "to calculate the measurements of, determine the extent of by measuring, apportion, moderate, control, judge," borrowed from Anglo-French mesurer, going back to Late Latin mensūrāre "to calculate the measurements of," derivative of mensūrameasure entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)