MAGNITUDE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Magnitude

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/mˈægnətˌud/ Listen

noun

Magnitude n.

1.

Extent of dimensions; size; applied to things that have length, breadth, and thickness. "Conceive those particles of bodies to be so disposed amongst themselves, that the intervals of empty spaces between them may be equal in magnitude to them all."

2.

(Geom.) That which has one or more of the three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness.

3.

Anything of which greater or less can be predicated, as time, weight, force, and the like.

4.

Greatness; grandeur. "With plain, heroic magnitude of mind."

5.

Greatness, in reference to influence or effect; importance; as, an affair of magnitude. "The magnitude of his designs."

6.

(Astron.) See magnitude of a star, below.

Apparent magnitude

1.

(Opt.), the angular breadth of an object viewed as measured by the angle which it subtends at the eye of the observer; called also apparent diameter.

2.

(Astron.) Same as magnitude of a star, below.

Magnitude of a star (Astron.), the rank of a star with respect to brightness. About twenty very bright stars are said to be of first magnitude, the stars of the sixth magnitude being just visible to the naked eye; called also visual magnitude, apparent magnitude, and simply magnitude. Stars observable only in the telescope are classified down to below the twelfth magnitude. The difference in actual brightness between magnitudes is now specified as a factor of 2.512, i.e. the difference in brightness is 100 for stars differing by five magnitudes.

See images of 'Magnitude'

Etymology of 'Magnitude'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Magnitude" Quotes from Famous Books

... was discovered by the French, under Du Mont, in 1604, and possession taken in the name of the king of France. They had already planted a colony at Quebec, and were led to believe, from meagre accounts of the Indians, which were strengthened by the magnitude of the river and the great force of its current, that they had found another route to their Canadian possessions. They made no extended explorations at this time, on account of the hostilities of the Indians, and resigned all attempt to maintain their claims ...

— The New England Magazine Volume 1, No. 3, March, 1886 - Bay State Monthly Volume 4, No. 3, March, 1886 • Various

... is dead at the bottom of the river, is he?" the woman shrieked. "And he's far away and alone and in great danger, is he? Magic!" The scorn which Momaya crowded into that single word would have done credit to a Thespian of the first magnitude. "Magic, indeed!" she screamed. "Momaya will show you some magic of her own," and with that she seized upon a broken limb and struck Rabba Kega across the head. With a howl of pain, the man turned and fled, Momaya pursuing him and beating him across ...

— Jungle Tales of Tarzan • Edgar Rice Burroughs

... presence of his last work, so overwhelming, so stupendous, we lesser men are left at a loss. Its magnitude demands the perspective that time only can lend it. Its dignity and austerity and its pitiless truth impose upon us that honest and intelligent silence which even the quickest minds concede is necessary ...

— Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise • David Graham Phillips

... me give you succinctly some idea of the magnitude of the industry that we are to discuss. The Census, in its latest bulletin on "Printing and Publishing in the United States," truly and tritely remarks that "Printing occupies a unique position among industries, and in certain aspects excels all others in interest, since the printed ...

— Commercialism and Journalism • Hamilton Holt

... returned from viewing the wreck he assured his townsmen that it was a wreck of such beautiful magnitude that traffic on the Northwestern would be tied up for twenty-four hours. It was feared that Mr. Ainslee would not be able to get his train and would have to drive five ...

— Green Valley • Katharine Reynolds

Copyright © 2025 Diccionario ingles.com