n.
Pronunciation: ' me-zh ə r, ' m ā -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mesure, from Anglo-French, from Latin mensura, from mensus, past participle of metiri to measure; akin to Old English m ǣ th measure, Greek metron
Date: 13th century
1 a (1) : an adequate or due portion (2) : a moderate degree also : MODERATION , TEMPERANCE (3) : a fixed or suitable limit : BOUNDS <rich beyond measure > b : the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something ascertained by measuring c : an estimate of what is to be expected (as of a person or situation) d (1) : a measured quantity (2) : AMOUNT , DEGREE
2 a : an instrument or utensil for measuring b (1) : a standard or unit of measurement ― see WEIGHT table (2) : a system of standard units of measure <metric measure >
3 : the act or process of measuring
4 a (1) : MELODY , TUNE (2) : DANCE especially : a slow and stately dance b : rhythmic structure or movement : CADENCE : as (1) : poetic rhythm measured by temporal quantity or accent specifically : METER (2) : musical time c (1) : a grouping of a specified number of musical beats located between two consecutive vertical lines on a staff (2) : a metrical unit : FOOT
5 : an exact divisor of a number
6 : a basis or standard of comparison <wealth is not a measure of happiness>
7 : a step planned or taken as a means to an end specifically : a proposed legislative act
– for good measure : in addition to the minimum required : as an extra