I. ˈnȯ(ə)rm, ˈnȯ(ə)m noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin norma carpenter's square, pattern, rule
1. : an authoritative rule or standard : model , type , pattern ; specifically : a hypothetical mineral composition of a rock calculated according to certain definite rules and usually differing widely from the actual mineral composition or mode
2. : a standard of conduct or ethical value : a principle of right action : maxim ; especially : an imperative statement asserting or denying that something ought to be done or has value
norms or ideals or values that are not held, that don't become peoples' interests, will be peculiarly valueless, no matter what inherent validity they may possess — Lucius Garvin
3. : an ideal standard binding upon the members of a group and serving to guide, control, or regulate proper and acceptable behavior
no society lacks norms governing conduct — R.K.Merton
4. : average
$10,000 per annum is the norm in this community
as
a. : a set standard of development or achievement usually derived from the average or median achievement of a large group
these students … scored above the national norms for teachers college graduates — Education Digest
specifically : a production quota set for a worker
b. : the average score of a specified class of persons on a specified test
grade norm
age norm
c. : a pattern or trait taken or estimated to be typical in the behavior of a social group because most frequently observed
studies aimed at establishing the norms of sexual behavior among the middle classes
Synonyms: see average
II. noun
1. : a real-valued nonnegative function defined on a vector space and satisfying the conditions that the function is zero if and only if the vector is zero, the function of the product of a scalar and a vector is equal to the product of the absolute value of the scalar and the function of the vector, and that the function of the sum of two vectors is less than or equal to the sum of the functions of the two vectors ; specifically : the square root of the sum of the squares of the absolute values of the elements of a matrix or of the components of a vector
2. : the greatest distance between two successive points of a set of points that partition an interval into smaller intervals
3. : a widespread or usual practice, procedure, or custom