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Definition of magnitude noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

magnitude

noun
 
 
/ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/
 
/ˈmæɡnɪtuːd/
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  1.  
    [uncountable] (formal) the great size or importance of something; the degree to which something is large or important
    • We did not realize the magnitude of the problem.
    • a discovery of the first magnitude
    see also order of magnitude
    Extra Examples
    • The effects were substantial in magnitude.
    • They appear to underestimate the magnitude of such influences.
    • We will face challenges of a similar magnitude.
    • We are talking about something of a different order of magnitude.
    • a fall in costs of sufficient magnitude to enable us to reduce prices
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • great
    • unprecedented
    • …
    verb + magnitude
    • appreciate
    • comprehend
    • grasp
    • …
    preposition
    • in magnitude
    phrases
    • of the first magnitude
    • of comparable magnitude
    • of similar magnitude
    • …
    See full entry
  2. [countable, uncountable] (astronomy) the degree to which a star is bright
    • The star varies in brightness by about three magnitudes.
    • Stars of the first magnitude are visible to the naked eye.
    see also absolute magnitude, apparent magnitude
  3. [countable, uncountable] (geology) the size of an earthquake
    • The quake reached a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale.
    Topics The environmentc2
    4. Word Originlate Middle English (also in the sense ‘greatness of character’): from Latin magnitudo, from magnus ‘great’.
See magnitude in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee magnitude in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: magnitude

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
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