Knowledge

Metrology Dictionary

The complete VIM vocabulary — all numbered concepts of JCGM 200:2012 as faithful paraphrases with clause citations — plus clearly labeled practice terms from the GUM, ILAC, ISO and NIST guidance.

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 · Standards & Units

Ordinal quantity

A quantity defined by an agreed procedure that can be ranked but has no meaningful algebra — Rockwell hardness or earthquake magnitude: order exists, differences and ratios do not.

VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.26 · Standards & Units

Ordinal quantity-value scale

A quantity-value scale for ordinal quantities, established by agreement on a procedure — comparisons of order are valid, arithmetic on the values is not.

VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.28 · Standards & Units