Re: Re: Stillness. now Dimension

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate;

After my initial reply, I realized we might be usng the term 'dimension' in a different way, so looked it up in a dictionary, and realized I was using it in a mathematics sense, NOT a physics sense, so I 'stand corrected.' Thanks!

(isn't language fun?? said partially facetiously and partially seriously: I do enjoy words and shades of meaning, often a colleague will ask me about the correct useage of a word, and I am the semi-official proofreader at our office)

renaissanzelady

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dimension

diâ‹…menâ‹…sion

 

 /dɪˈmɛnʃən, daɪ-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [di-men-shuhn, dahy-] Show IPA

–noun

1.

Mathematics.

a.

a property of space; extension in a given direction: A straight line has one dimension, a parallelogram has two dimensions, and a parallelepiped has three dimensions.

b.

the generalization of this property to spaces with curvilinear extension, as the surface of a sphere.

c.

the generalization of this property to vector spaces and to Hilbert space.

d.

the generalization of this property to fractals, which can have dimensions that are noninteger real numbers.

e.

extension in time: Space-time has three dimensions of space and one of time.

2.

Usually, dimensions.

a.

measurement in length, width, and thickness.

b.

scope; importance: the dimensions of a problem.

3.

unit (def. 6).

4.

magnitude; size: Matter has dimension.

5.

Topology.

a.

a magnitude that, independently or in conjunction with other such magnitudes, serves to define the location of an element within a given set, as of a point on a line, an object in a space, or an event in space-time.

b.

the number of elements in a finite basis of a given vector space.

6.

Physics. any of a set of basic kinds of quantity, as mass, length, and time, in terms of which all other kinds of quantity can be expressed; usually denoted by capital letters, with appropriate exponents, placed in brackets: The dimensions of velocity are [LT−1]. Compare dimensional analysis.

7.

dimensions, Informal. the measurements of a woman's bust, waist, and hips, in that order: The chorus girl's dimensions were 38-24-36.

8.

dimension lumber.

–verb (used with object)

9.

to shape or fashion to the desired dimensions: Dimension the shelves so that they fit securely into the cabinet.

10.

to indicate the dimensions of an item, area, etc., on (a sketch or drawing).

Origin: 1375–1425; late ME dimensioun (< AF) < L dÄ«mÄ“nsiÅn- (s. of dÄ«mÄ“nsiÅ) a measuring, equiv. to dÄ«mÄ“ns(us) measured out (ptp. of dÄ«mÄ“tÄ«rÄ«, equiv. to dÄ«- di- 2 + mÄ“tÄ«rÄ« to measure) + -iÅn- -ion Related forms:

diâ‹…menâ‹…sionâ‹…al, adjective

diâ‹…menâ‹…sionâ‹…alâ‹…iâ‹…ty, noun

diâ‹…menâ‹…sionâ‹…alâ‹…ly, adverb

diâ‹…menâ‹…sionâ‹…less, adjective

Synonyms:2b. range, extent, magnitude.

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009. Cite This Source

Related Words for : dimension

attribute, property, proportion

Subject: Re: Re: Stillness.To: FAMSecretSociety Received: Monday, March 16, 2009, 9:00 PM

To the member (?) who said that her school lessons defined"dimension" as meaning only the dimensions of length, width, height,and time -- I don't know any scientist who actually limits"dimensions" to just those four. For example, a scientist would saythat a series of crayons in a box differ along the dimension of color-- several glasses of water (hot, warm, tepid, cool, cold) differalong the dimension of temperature -- etc.: "dimension" means "someproperty you can measure."Kate Gladstone

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