a definite or known quantity measured out: to drink a measure of wine.
7.
any standard of comparison, estimation, or judgment.
8.
a quantity, degree, or proportion: in large measure.
9.
a moderate amount: to live with a measure of enjoyment.
10.
a limit, or an extent or degree not to be exceeded: to know no measure.
11.
reasonable bounds or limits: to know no measure.
12.
a legislative bill or enactment: The senate passed the new measure.
13.
Usually, measures.actions or procedures intended as a means to an end: to take measures to avert suspicion.
14.
a short rhythmical movement or arrangement, as in poetry or music. Compare meter2(def. 1b).
15.
a particular kind of such arrangement.
16.
a metrical unit.
17.
Music.
a.
the music contained between two bar lines; bar.
b.
an air or melody.
c.
a slow, dignified dance.
18.
Printing. the width, measured in ems or picas, to which a column or page of printed matter is set.
19.
measures, Geology. beds; strata.
20.
Mathematics. an abstraction of the property of length; a set function assigning to each set of a collection of sets a value, usually having the properties of sigma finiteness and fnite additivity, the functional value of the whole collection being greater than zero.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
to reach a certain standard: The exhibition didn't measure up to last year's.
b.
to be capable or qualified: As an administrator, he couldn't quite measure up.
Idioms
33.
beyond measure, too much to be reckoned; immeasurably; extremely: The suffering that they endured was beyond measure.
34.
for good measure, as an extra: In addition to dessert, they served chocolates for good measure.
35.
have/take someone's measure, to judge or assess someone's character, capabilities, etc.; size up: During their conversation she was taking his measure as a prospective employee.
36.
in a/some measure, to some extent or degree: His conclusion is justified in some measure.
37.
measure one's length, to fall or be knocked down; fall flat: He missed a step in the dark and measured his length at the bottom.
Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English mesure < Middle French < Latin mēnsūra equivalent to mēns(us) (past participle of mētīrī to measure, mete) + -ūra-ure
Related forms
meas·ur·er, noun
in·ter·meas·ure, verb (used with object), in·ter·meas·ured, in·ter·meas·ur·ing.