See Also: Unit(casino)
UNIT(finance)
dog unit(medicine)
Unit(medicine)
cat unit(medicine)
Unit(money)
unit(dictionary)
USP unit(medicine)
Dam unit(medicine)
Unit Value(money)

unit (iou)



unit noun1 & adjective. L16.
[from Latin unus, prob. after DIGIT. Cf. earlier UNITY noun1.]
A. noun.
I.
Math.
a. The quantity of one considered as an undivided whole and the basis of all numbers. Also (now rare or obsolete), a number exactly divisible by one, a whole number, an integer. L16.
b. In pl. The rightmost digit of a whole number in decimal notation, representing an integer less than ten; the equivalent digit in other scales of numerical notation. L17.
Engineering Three tubes count the hundreds, tens and units respectively.
c. (Without article.) The numeral one; = UNITY noun1 1b. E18-E19.
A quantity adopted as a basis or standard of measurement in terms of which other quantities may be expressed. M18.
astronomical unit, atomic mass unit, Svedberg unit, thermal unit, etc.
b. A substance adopted as a standard for the measurement of relative density, atomic weight, etc. E19.
c. A specific quantity used in measuring and charging for a commodity or service; esp. one kilowatt-hour of mains electricity. L19.
d. A measure of educational attainment comprising a specific number of hours of study in a course, a number of which are required to be completed for matriculation etc. Also course unit. Cf. CREDIT noun 11. Orig. US. L19.
e. Pharmacology. The amount of a drug, antibiotic, etc., required to produce a specific effect, used esp. as a measure of the biological activity of an impure substance. L19.
f. Commerce. The smallest measure of investment in a unit trust. M20.
g. A measure of the alcohol content of a drink equivalent to 9 grams of absolute alcohol (roughly corresponding to half a pint of beer or a measure of spirits). L20.
II.
An individual thing, person, or group regarded as single and complete, esp. for the purposes of calculation; each of the (smallest) separate individuals or groups into which a complex whole may be analysed. E17.
social unit: see SOCIAL adjective.
Saki A group of speakers of whom Henry Greech had been an impatient unit. A. Wilson Individuals against State tyranny, the unit against the monopoly. F. Astaire The show traveled intact as a unit. Making Music Which one has the career? The band as a 'unit' or you as a musician?
A subdivision of a larger military grouping. L19.
G. F. Kennan The retention of the expected Czech units..as part of the Allied occupying force. C. Ryan The unit of 544 men now approaching was hand-picked, every soldier a veteran.
A group of buildings, wards, etc., in or connected with a hospital; spec. one providing care in a specified field. L19.
Nature An active research programme..carried out..with the renal unit. Nursery World A partial hearing unit attached to their local school.
A piece of (esp. storage) furniture which may be fitted with other pieces to form a larger system, or which is made of smaller complementary parts. E20.
Home Finder Fully-fitted kitchens with high-quality units.
A private residence forming one of several in a large building or group of buildings; a flat. Also home unit. N. Amer., Austral., & NZ. M20.
A group of people having a particular (specified) role in an organization or team; a device with a specified function forming part of a complex mechanism. M20.
Birds Magazine Natural history film units around the world.
A motor vehicle, esp. one having both engine and haulage sections in a single body; spec. (NZ) a suburban train. M20.
Phrases: unit of account a monetary unit in which accounts are kept.
b. attrib. or as adjective.
Of, pertaining to, or equivalent to (that of) a unit; forming a unit. M19.
Having the individual existence of a unit; individual. rare. L19.
Special collocations & comb.: unit cell Crystallography the smallest structural unit having the overall symmetry of a crystal, which by repetition in three dimensions gives the entire lattice. unit character Genetics a character inherited according to Mendelian laws, esp. one controlled by a single pair of alleles; also formerly, the alleles themselves. unit cost the cost of producing one item of manufacture. unit-factor Genetics (obsolete exc. Hist.) = GENE. unit-holder a person holding securities in a unit trust. unit-linked adjective (designating a life assurance policy) in which part of the premium is invested in a unit trust. unit load a package of goods arranged for shipment etc. as a single unit, to facilitate handling. unit matrix Math. = identity matrix s.v. IDENTITY. unit membrane Biology a lipoprotein membrane composed of two electron-dense layers enclosing a less dense layer, found enclosing many cells and cell organelles. unit price the price charged for each unit of goods supplied. unit train N. Amer. a train transporting a single commodity at a special rate between two points. unit trust a trust company whose business is managing investments on behalf of investors, the investors' holding being in the form of units that represent a certain fraction of the value of the investments and are issued by and bought back by the managers. unit vector Math. a vector which has a magnitude of one.