MAGNITUDE


Meaning of MAGNITUDE in English

/ ˈmægnɪtjuːd; NAmE -tuːd/ noun magnitude (of sth)

1.

[ U ] ( formal ) the great size or importance of sth; the degree to which sth is large or important :

We did not realize the magnitude of the problem.

a discovery of the first magnitude

2.

[ C , U ] ( astronomy ) the degree to which a star is bright :

The star varies in brightness by about three magnitudes.

3.

[ C , U ] ( geology ) the size of an earthquake

••

WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English (also in the sense greatness of character ): from Latin magnitudo , from magnus great.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.