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   measure

   /ˈmɛʒə/

   verb

   • 1. ascertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units: "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 137 cm wide"
   • ▪ ascertain the size and proportions of (someone) in order to make or provide clothes for them: "he will be measured for his team blazer next week"
   • ▪ take an exact quantity of something: "she helped to measure out the ingredients"
   • 2. assess the importance, effect, or value 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: "I'm afraid we didn't measure up to the standards they set"
   • ▪ scrutinize someone 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 actiondeedproceedingprocedurestepmeansexpedientmanoeuvreinitiativeprogrammeoperationcontrollegal action
   • ▪ a legislative bill: "the Senate passed the measure by a 48–30 vote" Similar statuteactbilllawlegislation
   • 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 units expressing size, amount, or degree of something: "the dimensions were in imperial measure" Similar statuteactbilllawlegislation
   • ▪ a standard quantity or amount: "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 whisky 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 of the degree, extent, or quality of something: "his resignation is a measure of how angry he is" Similar yardstickteststandardnormbarometertouchstonelitmus testcriterionbenchmark
   • 4. the rhythm of a piece of poetry or a piece of music. Similar metrecadencerhythmfoot
   • ▪ a particular metrical unit or group: "measures of two or three syllables are more frequent in English prose"
   • ▪ a bar of music or the time of a piece of music. North American
   • ▪ a dance, typically one that is 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

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • S

     1

   • U

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

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