magnitude
/ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmæɡnɪtuːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmag-nə-ˌtüd -ˌtyüd/ (ame, mw)
magnitude — noun
1. how large, serious, or important something is, especially when the scale of it m
how large, serious, or important something is, especially when the scale of it matters for understanding its full effects or significance.
The team did not fully understand the magnitude of the problem until the data arrived.
Residents were shocked by the magnitude of the flood damage across the whole town.
collocation: magnitude of [something]
Constanza could not grasp the magnitude of the task ahead of her.
The magnitude of the company's debt became clear during the annual audit.
Historians still debate the magnitude of the social changes that followed the war.
- scale
focuses on range or level with an implicit reference standard
- extent
emphasises the physical or conceptual boundaries of something
- significance
stresses meaning or consequence rather than physical size
- scope
suggests the breadth of coverage or the range of items affected
- insignificance
indicates a lack of importance rather than small size
- triviality
suggests something so minor it is barely worth noticing
文法句型
magnitude + of + noun phrase
adjective + magnitude
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' followed by a noun phrase describing the thing being assessed. Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'full', 'true', 'sheer', or 'real' to emphasize the scale.
常見錯誤
2. a number on a fixed scale that shows how bright a star, planet, or other object
a number on a fixed scale that shows how bright a star, planet, or other object in the sky appears when seen from Earth.
Astronomers measure the magnitude of stars to compare how bright they really are.
astronomy: stellar magnitude scale
The telescope revealed a galaxy with a magnitude too faint for the human eye.
Tamar learned that a lower magnitude number means a star appears brighter.
Leo checked the star chart and noted the magnitude of each visible planet.
- brightness
general perceptual term; magnitude is the specific numerical measure
文法句型
magnitude + of + number
adjective + magnitude
用法筆記
The astronomical magnitude scale is inverted: a lower number indicates a brighter object, and very bright objects have negative values (e.g., Sirius at −1.46). Commonly paired with 'apparent' (brightness as seen from Earth) or 'absolute' (intrinsic brightness at a standard distance).
常見錯誤
3. a number that describes the strength or energy released by an earthquake, measur
a number that describes the strength or energy released by an earthquake, measured using a standard numerical scale.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2, causing major damage to the city.
seismology: earthquake magnitude scale
Scientists recorded a small magnitude 3.1 tremor near the volcano last night.
Buildings in the area are designed to survive earthquakes with a magnitude up to 8.
Chidi explained that each whole number on the magnitude scale represents ten times more shaking.
- strength
everyday term for earthquake size; magnitude is the precise numerical measure
文法句型
magnitude + number
adjective + magnitude
magnitude + of + number
用法筆記
Each whole-number step on the scale corresponds to roughly 32 times more energy released. Typically used without an article in the pattern 'magnitude [number]' (e.g., 'a magnitude 6.2 earthquake'). Modern reports usually cite the moment magnitude scale (Mw) rather than the older Richter scale.