quantity

EnglishEdit

 
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EtymologyEdit

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

PronunciationEdit

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

NounEdit

quantity (countable and uncountable, plural quantities)

  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 costs $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 and Karen Schwitters, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach, p 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, p137
      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, p54
      ANN.   quantity cubed.
      SERGE LANG. That's right,  .
  7. (phonology) Length of sounds.

Usage notesEdit

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

SynonymsEdit

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

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

See alsoEdit

Further readingEdit