unit Definition

unit
noun

1a. A single item or element regarded as the smallest subdivision of a whole; a single person or thing.

Thesaurus: section, segment, part, fraction, component, constituent, piece, module, portion, element, factor, digit, layer.
1b. A person, thing or group viewed as a whole.

Thesaurus: whole, one, unity, entirety, total, totality, assembly, assemblage, system, complement.
2. A set of mechanical or electrical parts, or a group of workers, performing a specific function within a larger construction or organization.
3. A standard measure of a physical quantity, such as time or distance, specified multiples of which are used to express its size, eg an SI unit.
4. non-technical
A kilowatt-hour.
5. Any whole number less than 10.
6. Any subdivision of a military force.
7a. An item of furniture that combines with others to form a set;
7b. A set of such items.
8. pharmacol.
The amount of a drug, vaccine, etc that is required to produce a specific effect.
9. A standard measure used to calculate alcohol intake, equivalent to 9 grams of absolute alcohol, approximately equivalent to a pint of beer, etc, a glass of wine, a measure of spirits, etc.
10. finance.
The smallest measure of investment in a unit trust.
(N Amer)
(Austral)
(NZ)
11. Short form of home unit.

adj

1. Relating to the quantity of one, eg unit mass.

Etymology: 16c: from Latin unus one, perhaps modelled on digit; see also unity.