vexillum

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.

2. 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.

6. 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.

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.

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.