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unit

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unit

  • /ˈjuː.nɪt/
  • /ˈ(j)ɪu̯.nɪt/

Rhymes with -uːnɪt

Where it comes from

Formerly unite, a later form of unity; see unity.

noun units

  1. Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one. Number, we define, to be, a certayne Mathematicall Sũme, of Vnits. [Note the worde, Vnit, to expresse the Greke Monas, & not Vnitie: as we haue all, commonly, till now, vsed.]
  2. A standard measure of a quantity or magnitude. The centimetre is a unit of length.

    Similar: unit of measure, unit of measurement

  3. A basic, self-contained component or module that performs a specific function inside a computer system.
  4. The number one.
  5. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of international unit This pill provides 500 units of Vitamin E.
  6. An organized group comprising people or equipment. He was a member of a special police unit.
  7. A course, lesson, or section of a curriculum covering a particular topic or skill. We're starting a new unit on photosynthesis next week.
  8. informal A member of a military organization. The fifth tank brigade moved in with 20 units. (i.e., 20 tanks)
  9. An item which may be sold singly. We shipped nearly twice as many units this month as last month.
  10. Australia, New Zealand, UK, US Any piece of equipment, such as an appliance, power tool, stereo system, computer, tractor, or machinery. This air-conditioner is the most efficient unit we sell.
  11. A structure used to display goods for sale (usually containing shelves, pegs or hooks)
  12. Australia, New Zealand, US A measure of housing equivalent to the living quarters of one household; an apartment where a group of apartments is contained in one or more multi-storied buildings or a group of dwellings is in one or more single storey buildings, usually arranged around a driveway. The new apartment complex will have 50 units.
  13. A quantity of approximately 517 milliliters (1.1 U.S. pints) of blood.
  14. US Any military element whose structure is prescribed by competent authority, such as a table of organization and equipment; specifically, part of an organization.
  15. US An organization title of a subdivision of a group in a task force.
  16. US A standard or basic quantity into which an item of supply is divided, issued, or detailed.

    Similar: unit of issue

  17. US With regard to Reserve Components of the Armed Forces, denotes a Selected Reserve unit organized, equipped, and trained for mobilization to serve on active duty as a unit or to augment or be augmented by another unit. Headquarters and support functions without wartime missions are not considered units.
  18. The identity element, the neutral element. An element 𝑒 of 𝑆 such that 𝑒𝑥 = 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑒 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑆 is called a unit element. (When the law of composition is written additively, the unit element is denoted by 0, and is called a zero element.)

    Similar: identity element, unity, unit element

  19. An element having an inverse, an invertible element; an associate of the unity. Let 𝐴 be an arbitrary integral domain. We say that an element 𝑎 ∈ 𝐴 is invertible or is a unit of 𝐴 if it has an inverse in 𝐴; in ℤ the units are ±1, […]
  20. In an adjunction, a natural transformation from the identity functor of the domain of the left adjoint functor to the composition of the right adjoint functor with the left adjoint functor.
  21. A volume of rock or ice of identifiable origin and age range that is defined by the distinctive and dominant, easily mapped and recognizable petrographic, lithologic or paleontologic features (facies) that characterize it. For example, the Moenkopi Formation was named for the small settlement of Moenkopi, Arizona where the formation was first defined as being a separate unit from the rocks above and beneath it.
  22. UK A unit of alcohol.
  23. UK One kilowatt-hour (as recorded on an electricity meter).
  24. historical A gold coin of the reign of James I, worth twenty shillings.
  25. A work unit.
  26. Australia, UK, slang A physically large person. Luca's father, Americo Campanaro, said: "I feel like my heart has been ripped out." Mr Campanaro added: "He was a big lad, a big unit, that's why he was a goalkeeper, with a big heart to match. A gentle giant."
  27. US, slang, vulgar A penis, especially a large one.

adjective

  1. not comparable For each unit. We have to keep our unit costs down if we want to make a profit.
  2. not comparable Having a size or magnitude of one. Consider the following time sequence Z#95;t#61;A#92;sin(#92;omegat#43;#92;theta), where A is a random variable with a zero mean and a unit variance and #92;theta is a random variable with a uniform distribution on the interval #91;-#92;pi,#92;pi#93; independent of A.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: social unit, system, whole, building block, whole thing, modulus, one, modular, module, subsection, strike, component, sector, centre, transmitter, gpt

Translations

Every language

noun standard measure of a quantity

Españolunidad
한국어단위 danwi
日本語単位 tan'i
中文單位 /单位 dānwèi
हिन्दीइकाई ikāī
Kiswahiliuniti
Portuguêsunidade
Françaisunité
DeutschEinheit
Italianounità
Ελληνικάμονάδα monáda
Românăunitate
Русскийедини́ца jediníca
Tiếng Việtđơn vị
العربيةوَحْدَة waḥda
עבריתיְחִידָה

noun number one

हिन्दीप्रथम pratham
Portuguêsunidade
Françaisunité
עבריתאֳָחָד, אַחַת

noun organized group comprising people and/or equipment

Españolunidad
日本語一式 isshiki
中文部件 bùjiàn
हिन्दीदल dal, टुकड़ी ṭukṛī
Portuguêsunidade
Françaisunité
DeutschEinheit
Italianounità
Ελληνικάμονάδα monáda, συγκρότημα sygkrótima
Românăunitate
Русскийедини́ца jediníca, подразделе́ние podrazdelénije
עבריתיְחִידָה

noun course or section of a curriculum

Españolunidad
Françaisunité
Русскийраздел razdel

noun member of a military organization

日本語部隊 butai, 部門 bumon
हिन्दीटुकड़ी ṭukṛī
Portuguêsunidade
Ελληνικάμονάδα monáda
Românăunitate
Русскийедини́ца jediníca
עבריתיחידה yekhidá

noun item which may be sold singly

Portuguêsunidade
Ελληνικάκομμάτι kommáti, τεμάχιο temáchio
Русскийедини́ца jediníca, шту́ка štúka
עבריתיְחִידָה

noun measure of housing equivalent to the living quarters of one household

עבריתדִּירָה

noun military: subdivision in a task force

हिन्दीटुकड़ी ṭukṛī

noun military: selected reserve unit

हिन्दीटुकड़ी ṭukṛī

noun algebra: element of a ring

Portuguêsunidade
Ελληνικάμονάδα monáda
Românăunitate
Русскийедини́ца jediníca

adj for each unit

Portuguêsunitário
Русскийединичный jediničnyj

adj mathematical

Portuguêsunitário

Talk about this word

Cite this
MLA

"unit." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/unit. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

unit. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/unit

Chicago

"unit." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/unit.

BibTeX
@misc{unit_2026,
  title = {unit},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/unit},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}