STANDARD


Meaning of STANDARD in English

I. ˈstan-dərd noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estandard banner, standard, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English standan to stand and probably to Old High German hart hard

Date: 12th century

1. : a conspicuous object (as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point especially in battle or to serve as an emblem

2.

a. : a long narrow tapering flag that is personal to an individual or corporation and bears heraldic devices

b. : the personal flag of the head of a state or of a member of a royal family

c. : an organization flag carried by a mounted or motorized military unit

d. : banner 1

3. : something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example : criterion

quite slow by today's standard s

4. : something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality

5.

a. : the fineness and legally fixed weight of the metal used in coins

b. : the basis of value in a monetary system

the gold standard

6. : a structure built for or serving as a base or support

7.

a. : a shrub or herb grown with an erect main stem so that it forms or resembles a tree

b. : a fruit tree grafted on a stock that does not induce dwarfing

8.

a. : the large odd upper petal of a papilionaceous flower (as of the pea)

b. : one of the three inner usually erect and incurved petals of an iris

9. : a musical composition (as a song) that has become a part of the standard repertoire

• stan·dard·less adjective

Synonyms:

standard , criterion , gauge , yardstick , touchstone mean a means of determining what a thing should be. standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority

standards of behavior

criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

II. adjective

Date: 1567

1.

a. : constituting or conforming to a standard especially as established by law or custom

standard weight

b. : sound and usable but not of top quality

standard beef

2.

a. : regularly and widely used, available, or supplied

standard automobile equipment

b. : well-established and very familiar

the standard opera

3. : having recognized and permanent value

a standard reference work

4. : substantially uniform and well established by usage in the speech and writing of the educated and widely recognized as acceptable

standard pronunciation is subject to regional variations

• stan·dard·ly adverb

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.