measure

B1 Topic:Mathematics & Measurement

US /ˈmɛʒ.ɚ/ UK /ˈmɛʒ.ə/ See IPA manual

Freq #4031

Meanings

1

verb
To find the size, amount, or degree of something.

We measured the temperature with a thermometer.
2

verb
To be a particular size, length, or amount.

This table measures one metre by two metres.
3

noun
An action taken to achieve a particular result.

The government introduced new measures to reduce pollution.
4

noun
A unit or standard used for measuring; an amount.

Add a measure of salt to the soup.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 noun · an action taken to achieve... step

Word family

Forms measuredmeasuresunmeasured

Derived forms biomeasurecommeasurecountermeasurehalf-measurehypermeasureimmeasuratemade-to-measuremeasurablemeasuragemeasurebatemeasureless measurement

Appears in

Phrases (1)

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beyond measure
to such a great extent that it cannot readily be measured

Preposition + noun

Idioms (1)

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for good measure
as an extra addition beyond what is strictly necessary

Proverbs (2)

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Simplified etymology

Measure dates from Middle English and goes back to the same ancient root as moon and month.

Etymology

From Middle English mesure, from Old French mesure, from Latin mēnsūra (“a measure”), mētior (“to measure”, supine stem in mēns-) + -tūra. Largely displaced native Old English metan ("to measure" whence modern mete) and ġemet (“a measure”). See also -ure.

*meh₁- Proto-Indo-European mesure Middle English mēnsūra Latin

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Topics

Mathematics & Measurement

External links

# measure

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɛʒ.ɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɛʒ.ə/
**Frequency rank:** 4031

## Meanings
1. To find the size, amount, or degree of something.
2. To be a particular size, length, or amount.
3. An action taken to achieve a particular result.
4. A unit or standard used for measuring; an amount.

## Examples
- We measured the temperature with a thermometer.
- This table measures one metre by two metres.
- The government introduced new measures to reduce pollution.
- Add a measure of salt to the soup.

## Derived Forms
- biomeasure
- commeasure
- countermeasure
- half-measure
- hypermeasure
- immeasurate
- made-to-measure
- measurable
- measurage
- measurebate
- measureless
- measurement

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *meh₁-
- Root: mesure
- Root: mēnsūra

## Etymology
From Middle English mesure, from Old French mesure, from Latin mēnsūra (“a measure”), mētior (“to measure”, supine stem in mēns-) + -tūra. Largely displaced native Old English metan ("to measure" whence modern mete) and ġemet (“a measure”). See also -ure.

## AI Etymology
Measure comes from Middle English mesure, from Old French mesure, from Latin mēnsūra (“a measure”), mētior (“to measure”, supine stem in mēns-) + -tūra. Largely displaced native Old English metan ("to measure" whence modern mete) and ġemet (“a measure”). See also -ure. In present-day English its meanings include to find the size, amount, or degree of something, to be a particular size, length, or amount, and an action taken to achieve a particular result. The historical chain runs through *meh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), mesure (Middle English), mesure (Old French), and mēnsūra (Latin). Related and derived forms include biomeasure, commeasure, and countermeasure.

## Topics
- Mathematics & Measurement

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measure

Meanings

Verb forms

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (1)

Idioms (1)

Proverbs (2)

Simplified etymology

Etymology

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