dimension

English

Etymology

From Latin dīmēnsiō, dīmēnsiōnem.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /daɪˈmɛnʃən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /dɪˈmɛnʃən/, /daɪˈmɛnʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛnʃən

Noun

dimension (plural dimensions)

1. A single aspect of a given thing.

   This film can be enjoyed on many dimensions - the script is great, the acting is realistic, and the special effects will simply take you aback.

   • Aspect definition

     Any specific feature, part, or element of something. (1 of 14 aspect definitions)
2. A measure of spatial extent in a particular direction, such as height, width or breadth, or depth.
   • 1992, Douglas Adams, chapter 17, in Mostly Harmless (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), page 150:

     I can tell you that in your universe you move freely in three dimensions that you call space. […] After that it gets a bit complicated, and there's all sort of stuff going on in dimensions thirteen to twenty-two that you really wouldn't want to know about.

   • 2012 January 1, Robert L. Dorit, “Rereading Darwin”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 100, number 1, page 23:

     We live our lives in three dimensions for our threescore and ten allotted years. Yet every branch of contemporary science, from statistics to cosmology, alludes to processes that operate on scales outside of human experience: the millisecond and the nanometer, the eon and the light-year.

   • Measure definition

     A prescribed quantity or extent.

     1. Moderation, temperance.
     2. A limit that cannot be exceeded; a bound. (Now chiefly in set phrases.)
     3. An (unspecified) portion or quantity.

     (1 of 23 measure definitions)

   • Spatial definition

     Pertaining to (the dimension of) space. (1 of 2 spatial definitions)

   • Extent definition

     A range of values or locations. (1 of 5 extent definitions)

   • Height definition

     The distance from the base of something to the top. (1 of 9 height definitions)

   • Width definition

     The state of being wide. (1 of 5 width definitions)

   • Breadth definition

     The extent or measure of how broad or wide something is. (1 of 6 breadth definitions)

   • Depth definition

     the vertical distance below a surface; the degree to which something is deep (1 of 13 depth definitions)
3. A construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished.
4. (geometry) The number of independent coordinates needed to specify uniquely the location of a point in a space; also, any of such independent coordinates.

   • Geometry definition

     The branch of mathematics dealing with spatial relationships. (1 of 4 geometry definitions)

   • Independent definition

     Not dependent; not contingent or depending on something else; free. (1 of 5 independent definitions)

   • Coordinate definition

     Of the same rank; equal.

   • Specify definition

     To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition. (1 of 4 specify definitions)

   • Unique definition

     Being the only one of its kind; unequaled, unparalleled or unmatched. (1 of 4 unique definitions)

   • Point definition

     A discrete division of something.

     1. An individual element in a larger whole; a particular detail, thought, or quality. (1 of 59 point definitions)

   • Space definition

     Of time.

     1. Free time; leisure, opportunity. (1 of 20 space definitions)
5. (linear algebra) The number of elements of any basis of a vector space.

   • Linear Algebra definition

     The branch of mathematics that deals with vectors, vector spaces, linear transformations and systems of linear equations. (1 of 2 linear algebra definitions)

   • Basis definition

     A physical base or foundation. (1 of 9 basis definitions)

   • Vector Space definition

     A set of elements called vectors, together with some field and operations called addition (mapping two vectors to a vector) and scalar multiplication (mapping a vector and an element in the field to a vector), satisfying a list of constraints.
6. (physics) One of the physical properties that are regarded as fundamental measures of a physical quantity, such as mass, length and time.

   The dimension of velocity is length divided by time.

   • Physics definition

     The branch of science concerned with the study of the properties and interactions of space, time, matter and energy. (1 of 2 physics definitions)

   • Physical definition

     Of medicine.

     1. Pertaining to the field of medicine; medical.
     2. That practises medicine; pertaining to doctors, physicianly.
     3. Medicinal; good for the health, curative, therapeutic.

     (1 of 12 physical definitions)

   • Property definition

     Something that is owned. (1 of 10 property definitions)

   • Fundamental definition

     A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; an essential part (1 of 3 fundamental definitions)

   • Mass definition

     Matter, material.

     1. A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size.
     2. Precious metal, especially gold or silver.
     3. The quantity of matter which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume. It is one of four fundamental properties of matter. It is measured in kilograms in the SI system of measurement.
     4. A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making pills; as, blue mass.
     5. A palpable or visible abnormal globular structure; a tumor.
     6. Excess body weight, especially in the form of muscle hypertrophy.
     7. Synonym of weight

     (1 of 13 mass definitions)

   • Length definition

     The distance measured along the longest dimension of an object. (1 of 9 length definitions)

   • Time definition

     The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. (1 of 25 time definitions)
7. (computing) Any of the independent ranges of indices in a multidimensional array.

   • Computing definition

     The process or act of calculation. (1 of 3 computing definitions)

   • Index definition

     An alphabetical listing of items and their location. (1 of 13 index definitions)

   • Multidimensional definition

     Having multiple dimensions (aspects).

     1. Having more than two dimensions.

     (1 of 3 multidimensional definitions)

   • Array definition

     Clothing and ornamentation. (1 of 12 array definitions)
8. (science fiction, fantasy) A universe or plane of existence.

   a machine that lets you travel to a parallel dimension.

   • 1938 July, L. Ron Hubbard, “The Dangerous Dimension”, in Astounding Science-Fiction‎^[2], volume XXI, number 5, Street & Smith, OCLC 10756251, page 105:

     "If a man should wish to be in some other place, it is entirely possible for him to imagine himself in that place and, diving back through the negative dimension, to emerge out of it in that place with instantaneous rapidity. To imagine oneself———"

   • 1988 May 2, Rod Loomis, Michelle Phillips, Gates McFadden, We'll Always Have Paris (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Paramount Domestic Television, OCLC 857144250:

     DR. PAUL MANHEIM: I have been on the other side. I have touched another dimension. Part of me is still there.
     LAURA MANHEIM: Help him.
     DR. CRUSHER: Try to stay calm Dr. Manheim. I don't think it's going to help you're struggling against it.
     DR. PAUL MANHEIM: My mind is floating between two places. It is difficult to know which is which. There is no way to explain it.

   • 2016, A.K. Brown, Jumpstart (Champagne Universe Series: Book 1), page 2:

     He was experimenting with matter transportation through the nth dimension.

   • Science Fiction definition

     Fiction in which advanced technology or science is a key element. (1 of 2 science fiction definitions)

   • Fantasy definition

     That which comes from one's imagination. (1 of 4 fantasy definitions)

Synonyms

• (single aspect of a thing): aspect
• (measure of spatial extent): magnitude, proportion, size, scope
• (construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished): attribute, property

Derived terms

Related terms

• hyperdimension

Translations

Verb

dimension (third-person singular simple present dimensions, present participle dimensioning, simple past and past participle dimensioned)

1. (transitive) To mark, cut or shape something to specified dimensions.

   • Mark definition

     Boundary, land within a boundary.

     1. A boundary; a border or frontier.
     2. A boundary-post or fence.
     3. A stone or post used to indicate position and guide travellers.
     4. A type of small region or principality.
     5. A common, or area of common land, especially among early Germanic peoples.

     (1 of 38 mark definitions)

   • Cut definition

     To incise, to cut into the surface of something.

     1. To perform an incision on, for example with a knife.
     2. To divide with a knife, scissors, or another sharp instrument. (1 of 34 cut definitions)

   • Shape definition

     The status or condition of something (1 of 9 shape definitions)
2. (transitive, programming) To specify the size of (an array or similar data structure); to allocate.

   Hyponym: redimension

   • 2002, James D. Foxall, ‎Wendy Haro-Chun, SAMS Teach Yourself C# in 24 Hours (page 268)

     Dimension an array to hold only as much data as you intend to put into it.

   • Programming definition

     The designing, scheduling or planning of a radio or television program/programme. (1 of 6 programming definitions)

   • Data Structure definition

     Any way of storing and organizing data in a computer so that it can be accessed efficiently.

   • Allocate definition

     To set aside for a purpose. (1 of 3 allocate definitions)

   • Redimension definition

     To resize (an array or similar data structure) so as to change its dimensionality; to reallocate.

Translations

Anagrams

• minisonde

Esperanto

Noun

dimension

1. accusative singular of dimensio

   • Dimensio definition

     dimension

Finnish

Noun

dimension

1. genitive singular of dimensio

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dīmensio, dīmensiōnem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di.mɑ̃.sjɔ̃/

• audio

  (file)

Noun

dimension f (plural dimensions)

1. dimension

Further reading

• “dimension”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• mendiions
• ondinisme

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin dīmensio. Attested from the 14th century.^[1]

Pronunciation

• Audio (Béarn)

  (file)

Noun

dimension f (plural dimensions)

1. dimension

   • Dimension definition

     A single aspect of a given thing. (1 of 8 dimension definitions)

Related terms

• dimensional
• dimensionar

References