Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin dimension-, dimensio, from dimetiri to measure out, from dis- + metiri to measure; more at MEASURE
Pronunciation : d&-men(t)-sh&n
also
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. measure; size. dimension\di*men"sion\ , n. [l. dimensio, fr. dimensus, p. p. of dimetiri to measure out; di- = dis- + metiri to measure: cf. f. dimension. see:
measure.].
2. measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness, or circumference; extension; measurement; -- usually, in the plural, measure in length and breadth, or in length, breadth, and thickness; extent; size; as, the dimensions of a room, or of a ship; the dimensions of a farm, of a kingdom. gentlemen of more than ordinary dimensions. irving.
3. Measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness, or circumference; extension; measurement; usually, in the plural, measure in length and breadth, or in length, breadth, and thickness; extent; size; as, the dimensions of a room, or of a ship; the dimensions of a farm, of a kingdom.
4. Extent; reach; scope; importance; as, a project of large dimensions.
5. The degree of manifoldness of a quantity; as, time is quantity having one dimension; volume has three dimensions, relative to extension.
6. A literal factor, as numbered in characterizing a term.
7. The term dimensions forms with the cardinal numbers a phrase equivalent to degree with the ordinal; thus, a2b2c is a term of five dimensions, or of the fifth degree.
8. The manifoldness with which the fundamental units of time, length, and mass are involved in determining the units of other physical quantities. the magnitude of something in a particular direction one of three cartesian coordinates that determine a position in space shape or form to required dimensions indicate the dimensions on; "These techniques permit us to dimension the human heart" To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse.
9. To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken thesenses or understanding of.
10. To grow dim.
11. A bower; a dingle.
12. A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents; the tenth of a dollar.
13. Measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness, or circumference; extension; measurement; us.
14. 1. A particular dimension of something is a particular aspect of it. There is a political dimension to the accusations This adds a new dimension to our work. = aspect.
15. If you talk about the dimensions of a situation or problem, you are talking about its extent and size. The dimensions of the market collapse were certainly not anticipated. = scale.
16. A dimension is a measurement such as length, width, or height. If you talk about the dimensions of an object or place, you are referring to its size and proportions. Drilling will continue on the site to assess the dimensions of the new oilfield see also:
fourth dimension. In mathematics, a number indicating the fewest coordinates necessary to identify a point in a geometric space; more generally, a number indicating a measurement of length (see:
length, area, and volume). One-dimensional space can be represented by a numbered line, on which a single number identifies a point. In two-dimensional space, a coordinate system may be superimposed, requiring only two numbers to identify a point. Three numbers suffice in three-dimensional space, and so on.