standard definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

banner, color, ensign, pennant, pennon, streamer, benchmark, criterion, gauge, mark, measure, test

More Synonyms»

Nearby Entries

standard - 12 dictionary results

Sponsored Links CA Standards Mastery
Built from California Standards and used by over 6 million students.
www.StudyIsland.com/

Quality Furniture Brands
The brand names you love at prices you can afford. Same day delivery.
LivingSpaces.com

Standart
Bargain Prices. Smart Deals. Save on Standart!
BizRate.com

stand⋅ard

[stan-derd]

–noun

1.	something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.

2.	an object that is regarded as the usual or most common size or form of its kind: We stock the deluxe models as well as the standards.

3.	a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment: They tried to establish standards for a new philosophical approach.

4.	an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc.: His work this week hasn't been up to his usual standard.

5.	standards, those morals, ethics, habits, etc., established by authority, custom, or an individual as acceptable: He tried to live up to his father's standards.

6.	a grade of beef immediately below good.

7.	the authorized exemplar of a unit of weight or measure.

8.	a certain commodity in or by which a basic monetary unit is stated. Compare gold standard, silver standard, bimetallism, monometallism.

9.	the legally established content of full-weight coins.

10.	the prescribed degree of fineness for gold or silver.

11.	British. a class or grade in elementary schools.

12.	a musical piece of sufficiently enduring popularity to be made part of a permanent repertoire, esp. a popular song.

13.	a flag indicating the presence of a sovereign or public official.

14.	a flag, emblematic figure, or other object raised on a pole to indicate the rallying point of an army, fleet, etc.

15.

Military.

a.	any of various military or naval flags.

b.	the colors of a mounted unit.

c.	(initial capital letter) a U.S. Navy radar-guided surface-to-air missile with a range of 10–30 miles (16–48 km).

16.	Heraldry. a long, tapering flag or ensign, as of a monarch or a nation.

17.	something that stands or is placed upright.

18.	a long candlestick or candelabrum used in a church.

19.	an upright support or supporting part.

20.	Armor. a standing collar of mail.

21.	Horticulture. a plant trained or grafted to have a single, erect, treelike stem.

22.	Botany. a distinct petal, larger than the rest, of certain flowers; a vexillum.

–adjective

23.	serving as a basis of weight, measure, value, comparison, or judgment.

24.	of recognized excellence or established authority: a standard reference on medieval history.

25.	usual, common, or customary: Chairs are standard furniture in American households.

26.	manual; not electric or automatic: standard transmission.

27.	conforming in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, etc., to the usage of most educated native speakers, esp. those having prestige, and widely considered acceptable or correct: Standard American English; standard pronunciation. Compare nonstandard (def. 2).

28.	authorized or approved: The program was broadcast on the standard broadcast band.

Origin:
1125–75; ME < OF, prob. < Frankish *standord (cf. G Standort standing-point), conformed to -ard -ard

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : standard

Italian:

unità, misura,

German:

die Norm,

Japanese:

基準

View 29 other languages »

Sponsored Links CA Standards Mastery
Built from California Standards and used by over 6 million students.
www.StudyIsland.com/

Quality Furniture Brands
The brand names you love at prices you can afford. Same day delivery.
LivingSpaces.com

Standart
Bargain Prices. Smart Deals. Save on Standart!
BizRate.com

stan·dard (stān'dərd) Pronunciation Key
n.

A flag, banner, or ensign, especially:
1. The ensign of a chief of state, nation, or city.
2. A long, tapering flag bearing heraldic devices distinctive of a person or corporation.
3. An emblem or flag of an army, raised on a pole to indicate the rallying point in battle.
4. The colors of a mounted or motorized military unit.
5. An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.
6. An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.
7. A degree or level of requirement, excellence, or attainment.
8. A requirement of moral conduct. Often used in the plural.
9. The large upper petal of the flower of a pea or related plant.
10. One of the narrow upright petals of an iris. Also called banner, vexillum.
1. An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.
2. An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.
3. A degree or level of requirement, excellence, or attainment.
4. A requirement of moral conduct. Often used in the plural.
5. The large upper petal of the flower of a pea or related plant.
6. One of the narrow upright petals of an iris. Also called banner, vexillum.
The set proportion by weight of gold or silver to alloy metal prescribed for use in coinage.
The commodity or commodities used to back a monetary system.
Something, such as a practice or a product, that is widely recognized or employed, especially because of its excellence.
1. A degree or level of requirement, excellence, or attainment.
2. A requirement of moral conduct. Often used in the plural.
3. The large upper petal of the flower of a pea or related plant.
4. One of the narrow upright petals of an iris. Also called banner, vexillum.
Chiefly British A grade level in elementary schools.
A pedestal, stand, or base.
Botany
1. The large upper petal of the flower of a pea or related plant.
2. One of the narrow upright petals of an iris. Also called banner, vexillum.
A shrub or small tree that through grafting or training has a single stem of limited height with a crown of leaves and flowers at its apex.
Music A composition that is continually used in repertoires.

adj.

Serving as or conforming to a standard of measurement or value.
Widely recognized or employed as a model of authority or excellence: a standard reference work.
Acceptable but of less than top quality: a standard grade of beef.
Normal, familiar, or usual: the standard excuse.
Commonly used or supplied: standard car equipment.
Linguistics Conforming to established educated usage in speech or writing.

[Middle English, from Old French estandard, rallying place, probably from Frankish *standhard : *standan, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots + *hard, fast, hard; see kar- in Indo-European roots.]
stan'dard·ly adv.

Synonyms: These nouns denote a point of reference against which individuals are compared and evaluated: a book that is a standard of literary excellence; a painting that is a benchmark of quality; criteria for hiring an excellent teacher; behavior that is a gauge of self-control; donations from the public, a measure of the importance of the arts; the program's success, a touchstone of cooperation in the community; farm failures, a yardstick of federal banking policy. See Also Synonyms at ideal.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

standard

1138, "flag or other conspicuous object to serve as a rallying point for a military force," from O.Fr. estandart, probably from Frank. *standhard, lit. "stand fast or firm," a compound of words similar to Gothic standan "to stand" (see stand) and hardus "hard" (see hard). So called because the flag was fixed to a pole or spear and stuck in the ground to stand upright. The other theory connects the O.Fr. word to estendre "to stretch out," from L. extendere (see extend). Meaning "unit of measure" is 1327, from Anglo-Fr., where it was used 13c., and is perhaps metaphoric, the royal standard coming to stand for royal authority in matters like setting weights and measures. Hence the meaning "authoritative or recognized exemplar of quality or correctness" (1477). Meaning "rule, principal or means of judgment" is from 1562. That of "definite level of attainment" is attested from 1711 (e.g. standard of living, 1903). Some senses (e.g. "upright pole," c.1450) seem to be infl. by stand (v.). Standardize is recorded from 1873. Standard-bearer in the figurative sense is from 1561.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

standard
adjective
1.	conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind; "windows of standard width"; "standard sizes"; "the standard fixtures"; "standard brands"; "standard operating procedure" [ant: nonstandard]
2.	commonly used or supplied; "standard procedure"; "standard car equipment"
3.	established or well-known or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence; "a standard reference work"; "the classical argument between free trade and protectionism" [ant: nonstandard]
4.	conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers; "standard English" (American); "received standard English is sometimes called the King's English" (British) [ant: nonstandard]
5.	regularly and widely used or sold; "a standard size"; "a stock item"
noun
1.	a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated; "the schools comply with federal standards"; "they set the measure for all subsequent work"
2.	the ideal in terms of which something can be judged; "they live by the standards of their community" [syn: criterion]
3.	a board measure = 1980 board feet
4.	the value behind the money in a monetary system
5.	an upright pole or beam (especially one used as a support); "distance was marked by standards every mile"; "lamps supported on standards provided illumination"
6.	any distinctive flag

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

standard stan·dard (stān'dərd)
n.

An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.
An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.

adj.

Serving as or conforming to a standard of measurement or value.
Widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: ¹stan·dard
Pronunciation: 'stan-d&rd
Function: noun
: something set up or established by an authority as a rule for themeasure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: ²standard
Function: adjective
: constituting or conforming to a standard especially as established by law or custom <standard weight>

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: stan·dard
Function: noun
1 : something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model, example, or point of reference standard of the reasonable person>
2 : something established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality
3 : the basis of value in a monetary system

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

standard standard
Standards are necessary for interworking, portability, and reusability. They may be de facto standards for various communities, or officially recognised national or international standards.
Andrew Tanenbaum, in his Computer Networks book, once said, "The nice thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from", a reference to the fact that competing standards become a source of confusion, division, obsolescence, and duplication of effort instead of an enhancement to the usefulness of products.
Some bodies concerned in one way or another with computing standards are IAB (RFC and STD), ISO, ANSI, DoD, ECMA, IEEE, IETF, OSF, W3C.
(1999-07-06)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source

Standard City, IL (village, FIPS 72234)
Location: (39.350726, -89.788154)
Population (2000): 138 (61 housing units)
Area: 0.636771 sq mi (land), 0.003363 sq mi (water)

Standard, IL (village, FIPS 72221)
Location: (41.256450, -89.179014)
Population (2000): 256 (119 housing units)
Area: 0.564911 sq mi (land), 0.000000 sq mi (water)
Zip code(s): 61363

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
Cite This Source

Standard

Stand"ard\, n. [OF. estendart, F. ['e]tendard, probably fr. L. extendere to spread out, extend, but influenced by E. stand. See Extend.]

1. A flag; colors; a banner; especially, a national or other ensign.

His armies, in the following day, On those fair plains their standards proud display. --Fairfax.

2. That which is established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, extent, value, or quality; esp., the original specimen weight or measure sanctioned by government, as the standard pound, gallon, or yard.

3. That which is established as a rule or model by authority, custom, or general consent; criterion; test.

The court, which used to be the standard of property and correctness of speech. --Swift.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. --Burke.

4. (Coinage) The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established by authority.

By the present standard of the coinage, sixty-two shillings is coined out of one pound weight of silver. --Arbuthnot.

5. (Hort.) A tree of natural size supported by its own stem, and not dwarfed by grafting on the stock of a smaller species nor trained upon a wall or trellis.

In France part of their gardens is laid out for flowers, others for fruits; some standards, some against walls. --Sir W. Temple.

6. (Bot.) The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla.

7. (Mech. & Carp.) An upright support, as one of the poles of a scaffold; any upright in framing.

8. (Shipbuilding) An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally.

9. The sheth of a plow.

10. A large drinking cup. --Greene.

Standard bearer, an officer of an army, company, or troop, who bears a standard; -- commonly called color sergeantor color bearer; hence, the leader of any organization; as, the standard bearer of a political party.

Standard

Stand"ard\, a. 1. Being, affording, or according with, a standard for comparison and judgment; as, standard time; standard weights and measures; a standard authority as to nautical terms; standard gold or silver.

2. Hence: Having a recognized and permanent value; as, standard works in history; standard authors.

3. (Hort.) (a) Not supported by, or fastened to, a wall; as, standard fruit trees. (b) Not of the dwarf kind; as, a standard pear tree.

Standard candle, Standard gauge. See under Candle, and Gauge.

Standard solution. (Chem.) See Standardized solution, under Solution.