magnitude

Definitions

1. The absolute or relative size, extent or importance of something.
   countable, uncountable
2. of the first magnitude, of greatest significance.
3. An order of magnitude.
   countable
4. A star’s brightness measured as either absolute magnitude or apparent magnitude. The latter states brightness in the sky on a scale from -26.8 (the Sun, brightest) to +25 (the faintest).
5. A number, assigned to something, such that it may be compared to others numerically
   countable, uncountable
6. magnitud.
7. Of a vector, the norm, most commonly, the two-norm.
   countable, uncountable
8. Greatness of rank or position: "such duties as were expected of a landowner of his magnitude" (Anthony Powell).
9. A logarithmic scale of brightness defined so that a difference of 5 magnitudes is a factor of 100.
   uncountable
10. The apparent brightness of a star, with lower magnitudes being brighter; apparent magnitude
    uncountable
11. A ratio of intensity expressed as a logarithm.
    countable
12. Astronomy a. The brightness of a celestial body on a numerical scale for which brighter objects have smaller values. Differences in magnitude are based on a logarithmic scale that matches the response of the human eye to differences in brightness so that a decrease of one magnitude represents an increase in apparent brightness by a factor of 2.512. Also called apparent magnitude.
    Astronomy
13. A measure of the energy released by an earthquake (e.g. on the Richter scale).
    countable, uncountable
14. Mathematics a. A number assigned to a quantity so that it may be compared with other quantities.
    Mathematics
15. Geology A measure of the amount of energy released by an earthquake, as indicated on the Richter scale.
    Geology
16. relative importance or significance: a problem of the first magnitude.
17. relative size or extent: the magnitude of the explosion.
18. (Mathematics) maths a number assigned to a quantity, such as weight, and used as a basis of comparison for the measurement of similar quantities
    maths

Equivalents

Examples

“And on a programme of works of this magnitude, passengers will need⟳ to be mindful of the age-old maxim of 'no gain⟳ without pain'.”

“Observations in the infrared domain allow⟳ one to penetrate the ~25-30 magnitudes of extinction present⟳ at visible wavelengths.”

CEFR level