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To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet.

measurement by sounding; also, the depth so ascertained.

Distance southward from any point departure or of reckoning, measured on a meridian; -- opposed to northing.

God gave him here, this land to keep long space." R. of brunne. Nine times the space that measures day and night. Milton. God may defer his judgments for a time, and give a people a longer space of repentance. Tillotson.

To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder. My right hand hath spanned the heavens. Isa. xiviii. 13.

uantity of heat required to raise temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000. -- Specific inductive capacity (Physics), the effect of a dielectric…

A spectroscope fitted for measurements of the luminious spectra observed with it.

To constitute; to measure. [Obs.] The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect. Fuller.

es having a common diameter. -- Spherical opening, the magnitude of a solid angle. It is measured by the portion within the solid angle of the surface of any sphere whose center is the angular point. -- Spherical polygon,portion of the surface of a sphere bounded by the arcs of three or more great circles. -- Spheri…

other in such a manner that any possible spherical triangle may be readily found, and the measures of the parts read off by inspection.

al instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines. -- Spider mite. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas. (b) An…

A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.

To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. Shak.

A square; a measure; a rule. [Obs.] "With golden squire." Spenser.

A Greek measure of length, being the chief one used for itinerary distances, also adopted by the Romans for nautical and astronomical measurements. It was equal to 600 Greek or 625 Roman feet, or 125 Roman paces, or to 606 feet 9 inches English. This was also called the Olympic stadium, as being the exact length of the…

A drop measurer; a glass tube tapering to a small orifice at the point, and having a bulb in the middle, used for finding the number of drops in equal quantities of different liquids. See Pipette. Sir D. Brewster.

To measure when erect on the feet. Six feet two, as I think, he stands. Tennyson.

That which is established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, extent, value, or quality; esp., the original specimen weight or measure sanctioned by government, as the standard pound, gallon, or yard.

In land measure, a pole, rod, or perch. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Swift. Stang ball, a projectile consisting of two half balls united by a bar; a bar shot. See Illust. of Bar shot, under Bar. -- To ride the stang, to be carried on a pole on men's shoulders. This method of punishing wife beaters, etc., was once in vogue in…

s, etc., with other divisions; a part of a poem, ordinarily containing every variation of measure in that poem; a combination or arrangement of lines usually recurring; whether like or unlike, in measure. Horace confines himself strictly to one sort of verse, or stanza, in every ode. Dryden.