unit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
    unit of measurement.
    • the dollar is the United States unit of currency
    • a unit of wheat is a bushel
    • change per unit volume
  2. noun an individual or group or structure or other entity regarded as a structural or functional constituent of a whole
    • the reduced the number of units and installations
    • the word is a basic linguistic unit
  3. noun an organization regarded as part of a larger social group
    social unit.
    • the coach said the offensive unit did a good job
    • after the battle the soldier had trouble rejoining his unit
  4. noun a single undivided whole
    • an idea is not a unit that can be moved from one brain to another
  5. noun a single undivided natural thing occurring in the composition of something else
    building block.
    • units of nucleic acids
  6. noun an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity
    whole.
    • how big is that part compared to the whole?
    • the team is a unit

WordNet

U"nit noun
Etymology
Abbrev. from unity.
Definitions
  1. A single thing or person.
  2. (Arith.) The least whole number; one.
    Units are the integral parts of any large number. I. Watts.
  3. A gold coin of the reign of James I., of the value of twenty shillings. Camden.
  4. Any determinate amount or quantity (as of length, time, heat, value) adopted as a standard of measurement for other amounts or quantities of the same kind.
  5. (Math.) A single thing, as a magnitude or number, regarded as an undivided whole.

Webster 1913