unit
pronunciation
How to pronounce unit in British English:
UK [ˈjuːnɪt]
How to pronounce unit in American English:
US [ˈjuːnɪt]
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- Noun:
- any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
- an individual or group or structure or other entity regarded as a structural or functional constituent of a whole
- an organization regarded as part of a larger social group
- a single undivided whole
- a single undivided natural thing occurring in the composition of something else
- an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity
Word Origin
- unit
- unit: [16] The term unit was given general currency by the 16th-century English mathematician, astrologer, and magician John Dee. It was formed from Latin ūnus, probably on the analogy of digit, and used as a mathematical term to replace unity as a translation of Euclid’s monás ‘indivisible number’. In a comment added to his introduction to Sir Henry Billingsley’s translation of Euclid, Dee wrote ‘Note the word unit to express the Greek monas, and not unity: as we have all commonly until now used’.
- unit (n.)
- 1560s, "single number regarded as an undivided whole," alteration of unity on the basis of digit. Popularized in John Dee's English translation of Euclid, to express Greek monas (Dee says unity formerly was used in this sense). Meaning "single thing regarded as a member of a group" is attested from 1640s. Extended sense of "a quantity adopted as a standard of measure" is from 1738. Sense of "group of wards in a hospital" is attested from 1893.
Example
- 1. C. find the proper words in this unit .
- 2. Any unit relevant to a particular action is marginal .
- 3. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspections .
- 4. I thumb my belt unit for the orderlies .
- 5. As a result , the economist intelligence unit has further lowered its forecast for world growth .