Measure: Glossary

A

accurate

correct, exact, with little or no error

air pressure

the weight of air pressing down on the earth

approximate

not quite exact, close to what is needed

B

biologist

a scientist who studies living things

C

calculate

to solve or figure out using math, to compute

calibrate

to check or adjust a tool for accuracy by comparison with a standard

consume

to use up

current

flow of electric charge

customary units

the measurement system used in the United States, with inches, feet, pounds, quarts, gallons

D

derived

to come from a particular source

device

an invention or machine used to perform a certain purpose

digital

showing information in electronic numerical form

E

error

inaccuracy in a scientific measurement

exact

correct, specific, accurate, no more and no less

exclusively

only; including no others

F

fraction

a part of a single unit

G

general

broad, not detailed or specific

H

hand span

distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger with the fingers outstretched

I

international trade

buying and selling goods between different countries

M

mass

amount of matter in an object

metric system

system of measurement based on the number ten

multiple

more than one

N

nautical mile

equal to 1.15 land miles

nonstandard unit

a measuring unit that may vary in length or weight, such as a sock, a foot, a handspan, or a marble

P

population

the number of organisms of a species in a given area

precise

obtaining a high degree of sameness when taking repeated measurements of the same thing

prefixes

a meaningful word part attached to the beginning of an existing word

property

attribute, characteristic, or trait of a substance, such as size, color or weight

Q

quantity

a number that describes how much or how many of something

R

rate

a number measured in relation to another measurement, as in meters per second or miles per hour

round

to simplify a number so that it is close to the actual value but not exact

S

standard unit

a measuring unit that is always the same and provides a consistent reference: an inch, mile, meter, kilometer, second, etc.

stern

the rear part of a boat

superior

much better than others, higher in quality

U

unit of measure

a quantity or object used as a standard; how much makes up "1" of the measurement.