STANDARD


Meaning of STANDARD in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' stan-d ə rd

Function: 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>.

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.