Definition of "unit" in Englisch

noun

1. (mathematics) 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. (sciences) A standard measure of a quantity or magnitude.

   • The centimetre is a unit of length.
   • The pound sterling is a unit of currency.

3. The number one.

4. Ellipsis of international unit.

   • This pill provides 500 units of Vitamin E.

5. An organized group comprising people and/or equipment.

   • He was a member of a special police unit.

6. (education) A course, lesson, or section of a curriculum covering a particular topic or skill.

   • We're starting a new unit on photosynthesis next week.

7. (military, informal) A member of a military organization.

   • The fifth tank brigade moved in with 20 units. (i.e., 20 tanks)

8. (commerce) An item which may be sold singly.

   • We shipped nearly twice as many units this month as last month.

9. (US, UK, Australia, New Zealand) 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.

10. (retail) A structure used to display goods for sale (usually containing shelves, pegs or hooks)

11. (US, Australia, New Zealand) 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.

12. (medicine) A quantity of approximately 517 milliliters (1.1 U.S. pints) of blood.

13. (US, military) Any military element whose structure is prescribed by competent authority, such as a table of organization and equipment; specifically, part of an organization.

14. (US, military) An organization title of a subdivision of a group in a task force.

15. (US, military) A standard or basic quantity into which an item of supply is divided, issued, or detailed. In this meaning, also called unit of issue.

16. (US, military) 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.