measures
measures — verb
1. to find out how long, wide, heavy, hot, or fast a thing is by using a tool such
to find out how long, wide, heavy, hot, or fast a thing is by using a tool such as a ruler, scale, or thermometer.
Sivan measures the kitchen floor before ordering new tiles.
transitive: measure + concrete object
The nurse measures every baby's head at the six-month check-up.
measure + body part for medical record
Caleb carefully measures the flour before adding it to the dough.
Engineers measure how much the bridge moves on windy days.
Tanvi uses a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water.
- estimate
guess without a precise tool
文法句型
measure + noun (object)
measure + how/what-clause
用法筆記
Object is typically a physical quantity (length, weight, time, temperature). Often appears with the tool in a 'with' or 'using' phrase.
常見錯誤
2. to have a stated length, width, height, or other dimension when checked.
to have a stated length, width, height, or other dimension when checked.
Élise's living-room rug measures three metres long and two metres wide.
measure + length + width dimensions
The new fridge measures only sixty centimetres across, so it fits anywhere.
measure + dimension + result clause
Salma's wedding cake measured almost a metre high before they cut it.
The world's largest pumpkin this year measures over four feet across.
- be
plain spoken equivalent ('the rug is three metres long')
文法句型
measure + dimension (e.g. '2 metres long')
用法筆記
Subject is the object being described; no human agent. Distinguish from sense 1: in sense 1 someone performs the action; here the object simply has the size.
常見錯誤
3. to form an opinion about how good, important, or successful someone or something
to form an opinion about how good, important, or successful someone or something is by comparing it to a standard.
Vinícius believes you cannot measure happiness with money or job titles.
measure + abstract quality
Schools often measure success by exam scores rather than student wellbeing.
measure + abstract + by + standard
Ife says we should measure a leader by what they do, not what they promise.
The team's progress is measured against the goals they set last spring.
文法句型
measure + noun
measure + noun + against + standard
be measured + by/against
用法筆記
Frequently passive. Object is usually an abstract quality (success, happiness, progress, ability). Often paired with 'by', 'against', or 'in terms of' to name the yardstick.
常見錯誤
measures — noun
1. an official action that a government, company, or other group takes in order to
an official action that a government, company, or other group takes in order to deal with a problem or reach a goal.
The city introduced new safety measures after the fire on Lemon Street.
introduce + safety measures
Sayaka's office took strict measures to stop people sharing customer data.
take measures + to-infinitive
Sari supports stronger measures against companies that pollute the river.
Emergency measures are in place at every airport during the heavy snow.
- inaction
doing nothing about a problem
文法句型
take measures (to do something)
measures against + problem
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense. Subject of the related verb is usually an institution (government, school, company), not a single person.
常見錯誤
2. a unit or system used to express how big, heavy, fast, or hot something is — for
a unit or system used to express how big, heavy, fast, or hot something is — for example, metres, kilos, or seconds.
The metre is the standard measure of length in most countries today.
standard measure + of + dimension
Older British recipes use measures like pounds and ounces instead of grams.
measures + like + examples
Christopher's class learns about weights and measures from around the world.
In music, the staff is divided into measures of equal length.
文法句型
a measure of + noun
in standard measures
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'weights and measures'. Distinguish from sense 3: a measure here is a UNIT (metre, kilo), while in sense 3 it is an AMOUNT (a lot of, a little).
3. an amount of something, especially something good or bad like success, freedom,
an amount of something, especially something good or bad like success, freedom, or pain — used when you do not want to be exact.
Dario felt a real measure of pride when his daughter finished medical school.
a measure of + positive emotion
The new mayor brought a measure of calm to the worried neighbourhood.
a measure of + abstract quality
Justin enjoys a fair measure of freedom now that he works from home.
There was some measure of truth in what Chiara said about the manager.
文法句型
a measure of + uncountable noun
用法筆記
Typically follows 'a', 'some', 'a fair/large/small/certain'. Object is an uncountable abstract noun (success, freedom, truth, pain). Distinguish from sense 2: here measure means QUANTITY, not unit.
常見錯誤
4. a fixed small amount of a strong drink such as whisky or gin, poured out in a ba
a fixed small amount of a strong drink such as whisky or gin, poured out in a bar using a special metal cup.
Inês ordered a double measure of whisky after a long shift at the hospital.
a (double) measure of + spirit
Each measure of gin in this pub is exactly twenty-five millilitres.
exact volume of a measure
Felipe poured a small measure of rum into the warm fruit cake.
The barman gave the regulars a generous measure of brandy on cold nights.
文法句型
a measure of + spirit
用法筆記
Mainly British English; in American bars the word 'shot' or 'pour' is more common. Used only for spirits, not beer or wine.
5. in written music, one of the equal sections of a stave divided by upright lines,
in written music, one of the equal sections of a stave divided by upright lines, each holding the same count of beats.
Takeshi practised the first eight measures of the Mozart piece every morning.
measures + number (eight measures)
The teacher asked the violinists to play from measure twelve to measure twenty.
measure + ordinal-like number reference
Each measure in this waltz holds three beats and lasts about one second.
The pianist skipped two measures by mistake during the school concert.
- bar
British English equivalent; same musical unit
用法筆記
American term; British musicians use 'bar' for the same thing. Found in music textbooks and on conductors' notes.
6. a sign or test used to decide how good, strong, or successful someone or somethi
a sign or test used to decide how good, strong, or successful someone or something really is.
Exam results are not the only measure of a good school.
the (only/best/true) measure of + abstract
Kindness to strangers is a fair measure of someone's character.
fair measure of + character/value
Profit alone is a poor measure of a company's long-term health.
The number of returning visitors is the truest measure of a hotel's quality.
文法句型
a measure of + abstract noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (action) and sense 3 (amount): here a measure is a TEST or sign you use to judge value. Often paired with 'the only/best/true/fair/poor measure of'.