n. & v.
--n.
1. a surveyor's mark cut in a wall, pillar, building, etc., used as a reference point in measuring altitudes.
2 a standard or point of reference.
3 a means of testing a computer, usu. by a set of programs run on a series of different machines.
--v.tr. evaluate (a computer) by a benchmark.
Phrases and idioms:
benchmark test a test using a benchmark.