measure
     n 1: the act or process of measuring; "the measurements were
          carefully done"; "his mental measurings proved
          remarkably accurate" [syn: {measurement}, {measuring}, {mensuration}]
     2: a basis for comparison; a reference point against which
        other things can be evaluated; "they set the measure for
        all subsequent work" [syn: {standard}, {criterion}, {touchstone}]
     3: how much there is of something that you can quantify [syn: {quantity},
         {amount}]
     4: any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal; "the
        situation called for strong measures"; "the police took
        steps to reduce crime" [syn: {step}]
     5: a statute in draft before it becomes law; "they held a
        public hearing on the bill" [syn: {bill}]
     6: (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse [syn: {meter},
         {metre}, {beat}, {cadence}]
     7: musical notation for a repeating pattern of musical beats;
        "the orchestra omitted the last twelve bars of the song"
        [syn: {bar}]
     8: measuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular
        intervals; used as a reference in making measurements
        [syn: {measuring stick}, {measuring rod}]
     v 1: determine the measurements of something or somebody, take
          measurements of; "Measure the length of the wall" [syn:
          {mensurate}, {measure out}]
     2: express as a number or measure or quantity; "Can you
        quantify your results?" [syn: {quantify}]
     3: have certain dimensions; "This table surfaces measures
        20inches by 36 inches"
     4: place a value on; judge the worth of something; "I will have
        the family jewels appraised by a professional" [syn: {evaluate},
         {valuate}, {assess}, {appraise}, {value}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0