dimension
Definitions
A measurable extent such as length, width, or height
尺寸；维度（长、宽、高等可测量的范围）
An aspect or feature of a situation
（情况的）方面，层面
Root Breakdown
Root-deriveddi- (a worn form of dis-, 'apart, in different directions') + mens (measure) + -ion (act, result) = 'measured out in different directions.' A solid object has three dimensions because you measure it three separate ways — length, width, height. The 'aspect' sense extends this: another direction along which you can size up a situation.
Root mens still carries 8 more wordsWhy It Means This
The leap from physical size to abstract 'aspect' is natural once you see a dimension as a direction you can measure along. Just as a box can be measured by length, width, and height, a problem can be 'measured' along its moral, financial, or human directions — each is a dimension of it.
Common Collocations
- 1.exact dimensions确切尺寸
- 2.add a new dimension增添新的层面
- 3.a different dimension另一个维度
- 4.spatial dimension空间维度
- 5.human dimension人文层面
Example Sentences
- 1.
Please give me the exact dimensions of the table.
- 2.
A cube has three dimensions: length, width, and height.
- 3.
The crisis added a new political dimension to the talks.