quantity

English

Etymology

From Middle English quantite, from Old French quantité, from Latin quantitās (“quantity”), from quantus (“how much”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɒn.tɪ.ti/

  • Audio (UK)

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• (General American) enPR: kwŏnʹ(t)ĭtē, IPA^(key): /ˈkwɑn(t)ɪti/, [ˈkʰwɑn(ɾ)ɨɾi], [ˈkʰwɑn(tʰ)ɨtʰi]

  • Audio (US)

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  • Audio (US)

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    Note: This is with a relaxed middle T, and is only used in colloquial contexts by many speakers.
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɑndədi/, /ˈkwɑnɾəɾi/

  • Audio (CA)

    (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈkwæn.tɪ.ti/, /ˈkwæn.tɪ.tɪ/

Noun

quantity (countable and uncountable, plural quantities) (abbreviated qty)

1. A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items.

   You have to choose between quantity and quality.

   • Fundamental definition

     A main or major principle, rule, law, etc. which serves as the foundation or basis of a system; an essential part (1 of 3 fundamental definitions)

   • Generic definition

     (1 of 16 generic definitions)

   • Term definition

     (1 of 36 term definitions)

   • Measurement definition

     The act of measuring. (1 of 2 measurement definitions)

   • Scalar definition

     Having magnitude but not direction. (1 of 6 scalar definitions)

   • Vector definition

     (1 of 15 vector definitions)

   • Denominating definition

     present participle and gerund of denominate

   • Group definition

     (1 of 30 group definitions)

   • Items definition

     plural of item
2. An indefinite amount of something.

   Some soap making oils are best as base oils, used in a larger quantity in the soap, while other oils are best added in a small quantity.

   Olive oil can be used practically in any quantity.

3. A specific measured amount.

   This bag would normally cost $497.50 for a quantity of 250, at a price of $1.99 per piece.

   Generally it should not be used in a quantity larger than 15 percent.

4. A considerable measure or amount.

   The Boeing P-26A was the first all-metal monoplane fighter produced in quantity for the U.S. Army Air Corps.

5. (metrology) Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference.

   • Metrology definition

     The science of weights and measures or of measurement. (1 of 2 metrology definitions)
6. (mathematics) Indicates that the entire preceding expression is henceforth considered a single object.

   x plus y quantity squared equals x squared plus 2xy plus y squared.

   • 2006, Jerome E. Kaufmann, Karen Schwitters, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach, page 89:

     For problems 58-67, translate each word phrase into an algebraic expression. […] 65. x plus 9, the quantity squared

   • 2005, R. Mark Sirkin, Statistics For The Social Sciences, page 137:

     The second, ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$ , read "summation of x, quantity squared," tells us to first add up all the xs to get ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ and then square ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ to get ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$ .

   • 1985, Serge Lang, Math!: Encounters with High School Students, page 54:

     ANN. ${\displaystyle ra}$ quantity cubed.
     SERGE LANG. That's right, ${\displaystyle (ra)^{3}}$ .

   • Mathematics definition

     An abstract representational system studying numbers, shapes, structures, quantitative change and relationships between them. (1 of 2 mathematics definitions)
7. (phonology) Length of sounds.

   • Phonology definition

     The study of the way sounds function in languages, including phonemes, syllable structure, stress, accent, intonation, and which sounds are distinctive units within a language. (1 of 2 phonology definitions)

   • Length definition

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

   • Sound definition

     Healthy. (1 of 7 sound definitions)

Usage notes

• In mathematics, used to unambiguously orate mathematical equations; it is extremely rare in print, since there is no need for it there.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• measure
• unit

Further reading

• “quantity”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “quantity”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “quantity”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.