Dictionary · Standards & Units
Quantity
A property of a phenomenon, body, or substance to which a magnitude can be assigned and expressed as a number and a reference (typically a measurement unit).
Related terms
More from Standards & Units
Measurement standard (etalon)
The realization of the definition of a given quantity, with stated value and uncertainty, used as a reference — an artifact, instrument, reference material, or measuring system.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.1
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
Coherent system of units
A system of units in which every derived unit is coherent — the SI as used with its base and coherent derived units.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.14
Reference material
Material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with reference to specified properties, established to be fit for its intended use in measurement or in examination of nominal properties.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.13
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
Quantity of dimension one
A quantity whose dimension has all base-quantity exponents equal to zero — refractive index, strain, a ratio of like quantities; often loosely called "dimensionless".
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.8