English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkwɒn.tɪ.ti/
    • Audio (UK):(file)
  • (General American) enPR: kwŏnʹ(t)ĭtē, IPA(key): /ˈkwɑn(t)ɪti/, [ˈkʰwɑn(ɾ)ɨɾi], [ˈkʰwɑn(tʰ)ɨtʰi]
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Audio (US):(file)
      Note: This is with a relaxed middle T, and is only used in colloquial contexts by many speakers.
  • (Canada) IPA(key): [ˈkwɑnɾəɾi]
  • (obsolete) IPA(key): /ˈkwæn.tɪ.ti/, /ˈkwæn.tɪ.tɪ/

Noun

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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.
  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.
  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,  , read "summation of x, quantity squared," tells us to first add up all the xs to get   and then square   to get  .
    • 1985, Serge Lang, Math!: Encounters with High School Students, page 54:
      ANN.   quantity cubed.
      SERGE LANG. That's right,  .
  7. (phonology) Length of sounds.

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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Further reading

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