Dictionary · Standards & Units
Multiple of a unit
A unit obtained by multiplying a given unit by an integer greater than one — the kilometre from the metre.
Related terms
More from Standards & Units
Conventional reference scale
A quantity-value scale defined by formal agreement — pH and the practical temperature scales are canonical examples.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.29
Reference data
Data related to a property of a phenomenon, body, or substance — or to a system of components of known composition or structure — obtained from an identified source, critically evaluated, and verified for accuracy.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.16
Unit equation
A mathematical relation between base and derived units — N = kg·m·s⁻².
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.23
Measurement unit
A real scalar quantity, defined and adopted by convention, with which any other quantity of the same kind is compared to express the ratio of the two quantities as a number.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.9
National measurement standard
A standard recognized by national authority to serve, in a state or economy, as the basis for assigning values to other standards of the same kind.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.3
Reference quantity value
A quantity value used as a basis for comparison with values of quantities of the same kind — a true value, a conventional value, or a standard's certified value, depending on context.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.18