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dimensions - 5 dictionary results

di⋅men⋅sion

  [di-men-shuhn, dahy-]
Use dimensions in a Sentence
–noun
1. Mathematics.
a. a property of space; extension in a given direction: A straight line has one dimension, a parallelogram has two dimensions, and a parallelepiped has three dimensions.
b. the generalization of this property to spaces with curvilinear extension, as the surface of a sphere.
c. the generalization of this property to vector spaces and to Hilbert space.
d. the generalization of this property to fractals, which can have dimensions that are noninteger real numbers.
e. extension in time: Space-time has three dimensions of space and one of time.
2. Usually, dimensions.
a. measurement in length, width, and thickness.
b. scope; importance: the dimensions of a problem.
3. unit (def. 6).
4. magnitude; size: Matter has dimension.
5. Topology.
a. a magnitude that, independently or in conjunction with other such magnitudes, serves to define the location of an element within a given set, as of a point on a line, an object in a space, or an event in space-time.
b. the number of elements in a finite basis of a given vector space.
6. Physics. any of a set of basic kinds of quantity, as mass, length, and time, in terms of which all other kinds of quantity can be expressed; usually denoted by capital letters, with appropriate exponents, placed in brackets: The dimensions of velocity are [LT−1]. Compare dimensional analysis.
7. dimensions, Informal. the measurements of a woman's bust, waist, and hips, in that order: The chorus girl's dimensions were 38-24-36.
8. dimension lumber.
–verb (used with object)
9. to shape or fashion to the desired dimensions: Dimension the shelves so that they fit securely into the cabinet.
10. to indicate the dimensions of an item, area, etc., on (a sketch or drawing).
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME dimensioun (< AF) < L dīmēnsiōn- (s. of dīmēnsiō) a measuring, equiv. to dīmēns(us) measured out (ptp. of dīmētīrī, equiv. to dī- di- 2 + mētīrī to measure) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
di⋅men⋅sion⋅al, adjective
di⋅men⋅sion⋅al⋅i⋅ty, noun
di⋅men⋅sion⋅al⋅ly, adverb
di⋅men⋅sion⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
2b. range, extent, magnitude.

dimension lumber

 
–noun
1. building lumber cut to standard or specified sizes.
2. sawed lumber from 2 to 5 in. (5 to 12.7 cm) thick and from 4 to 12 in. (10.2 to 30.5 cm) wide.
Also called dimension.

Origin:
1870–75

u⋅nit

  [yoo-nit]
–noun
1. a single thing or person.
2. any group of things or persons regarded as an entity: They formed a cohesive unit.
3. one of the individuals or groups that together constitute a whole; one of the parts or elements into which a whole may be divided or analyzed.
4. one of a number of things, organizations, etc., identical or equivalent in function or form: a rental unit; a unit of rolling stock.
5. any magnitude regarded as an independent whole; a single, indivisible entity.
6. Also called dimension. any specified amount of a quantity, as of length, volume, force, momentum, or time, by comparison with which any other quantity of the same kind is measured or estimated.
7. the least positive integer; one.
8. Also called unit's place.
a. (in a mixed number) the position of the first digit to the left of the decimal point.
b. (in a whole number) the position of the first digit from the right of the decimal point.
9. a machine, part, or system of machines having a specified purpose; apparatus: a heating unit.
10. Education. a division of instruction centering on a single theme.
11. Military. an organized body of soldiers, varying in size and constituting a subdivision of a larger body.
12. Medicine/Medical.
a. the measured amount of a substance necessary to cause a certain effect; a clinical quantity used when a substance cannot be readily isolated in pure form and its activity determined directly.
b. the amount necessary to cause a specific effect upon a specific animal or upon animal tissues.
13. Mathematics.
a. an identity element.
b. an element in a group, ring, etc., that possesses an inverse.
Origin:
1570; coined by John Dee as a trans. of Gk mónas (previously rendered as unity); perh. influenced by digit
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dimensions
di·men·sion   (dĭ-měn'shən, dī-)   
n.  
  1. A measure of spatial extent, especially width, height, or length.
  2. Extent or magnitude; scope. Often used in the plural: a problem of alarming dimensions.
  3. Aspect; element: "He's a good newsman, and he has that extra dimension" (William S. Paley).
  4. Mathematics
    1. The least number of independent coordinates required to specify uniquely the points in a space.
    2. The range of such a coordinate.
  5. Physics A physical property, such as mass, length, time, or a combination thereof, regarded as a fundamental measure or as one of a set of fundamental measures of a physical quantity: Velocity has the dimensions of length divided by time.
tr.v.   di·men·sioned, di·men·sion·ing, di·men·sions
  1. To cut or shape to specified dimensions.
  2. To mark with specified dimensions.

[Middle English dimensioun, from Latin dīmēnsiō, dīmēnsiōn-, extent, from dīmēnsus, past participle of dīmētīrī, to measure out : dī-, dis-, dis- + mētīrī, to measure; see mē-2 in Indo-European roots.]
di·men'sion·al adj., di·men'sion·al'i·ty (-shə-nāl'ĭ-tē) n., di·men'sion·al·ly adv., di·men'sion·less adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
dimension   (dĭ-měn'shən)  Pronunciation Key 
    1. Any one of the three physical or spatial properties of length, area, and volume. In geometry, a point is said to have zero dimension; a figure having only length, such as a line, has one dimension; a plane or surface, two dimensions; and a figure having volume, three dimensions. The fourth dimension is often said to be time, as in the theory of General Relativity. Higher dimensions can be dealt with mathematically but cannot be represented visually.
    2. The measurement of a length, width, or thickness.
  2. A unit, such as mass, time, or charge, associated with a physical quantity and used as the basis for other measurements, such as acceleration.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : dimensions
Spanish: tamaño, magnitud,
German: die Größe,
Japanese: 大きさ
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