Dictionary · Standards & Units
Primary measurement standard
A standard established using a primary reference measurement procedure, or created as an artifact chosen by convention — not calibrated against another standard for the same quantity.
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International measurement standard
A standard recognized by signatories to an international agreement and intended to serve worldwide.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.2
Travelling measurement standard
A standard, sometimes of special construction, intended for transport between locations — the artifacts that carry interlaboratory comparisons.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.8
Conservation of a measurement standard
The set of operations necessary to preserve the metrological properties of a standard within stated limits — storage, handling, surveillance, and use discipline.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.11
Off-system measurement unit
A unit that does not belong to the system of units in use — the day, the electronvolt, and the nautical mile relative to the SI.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.15
Numerical quantity value
The number in a quantity value — the 5.34 in 5.34 m: the ratio of the quantity to its unit.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.20
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