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standards

 - 6 dictionary results

stand⋅ard

  [stan-derd]
Use standards in a Sentence
–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

Synonyms:
1, 3. gauge, basis, pattern, guide. Standard, criterion refer to the basis for making a judgment. A standard is an authoritative principle or rule that usually implies a model or pattern for guidance, by comparison with which the quantity, excellence, correctness, etc., of other things may be determined: She could serve as the standard of good breeding. A criterion is a rule or principle used to judge the value, suitability, probability, etc., of something, without necessarily implying any comparison: Wealth is no criterion of a person's worth.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To standards
stan·dard   (stān'dərd)   
n.  

  1. 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.

  3. The set proportion by weight of gold or silver to alloy metal prescribed for use in coinage.

  4. The commodity or commodities used to back a monetary system.

  5. 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.

  7. Chiefly British A grade level in elementary schools.

  8. A pedestal, stand, or base.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Music A composition that is continually used in repertoires.

adj.  

  1. Serving as or conforming to a standard of measurement or value.

  2. Widely recognized or employed as a model of authority or excellence: a standard reference work.

  3. Acceptable but of less than top quality: a standard grade of beef.

  4. Normal, familiar, or usual: the standard excuse.

  5. Commonly used or supplied: standard car equipment.

  6. 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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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
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Legal Dictionary

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.
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Medical Dictionary

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.
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Medical Dictionary

standard stan·dard (stān'dərd)
n.

  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.

adj.

  1. Serving as or conforming to a standard of measurement or value.

  2. 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.
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