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[yoo-nit] /ˈyu nɪt/
a single thing or person.
any group of things or persons regarded as an entity:
They formed a cohesive unit.
a rental unit; a unit of rolling stock.
the least positive integer; one.
Also called unit's place.
  1. (in a mixed number) the position of the first digit to the left of the decimal point.
  2. (in a whole number) the position of the first digit from the right of the decimal point.
a machine, part, or system of machines having a specified purpose; apparatus:
a heating unit.
Education. a division of instruction centering on a single theme.
  1. the measured amount of a substance necessary to cause a certain effect; a clinical quantity used when a substance cannot be readily isolated in pure form and its activity determined directly.
  2. the amount necessary to cause a specific effect upon a specific animal or upon animal tissues.
  1. an identity element.
  2. an element in a group, ring, etc., that possesses an inverse.
1570; coined by John Dee as a translation of Greek mónas (previously rendered as unity); perhaps influenced by digit
Related forms
interunit, adjective
multiunit, adjective
subunit, noun
superunit, noun


1. Unabridged
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Examples from the web for unit
  • Of course, they are accompanied by negative responses from some folks in my unit.
  • The size of your composting unit depends on how much you're composting and how big a unit your home can hold.
  • The follicular unit transplantation is an older technique.
  • Installation is fast and easy with this prebuilt, modular unit.
  • Each book contains four unit lessons to do with your kids or your students.
  • Every academic unit should create a program-responsibility statement that defines specifically what it does.
  • The smallest unit of living matter that can operate independently.
  • And in the fall a pilot will air, an academic unit with a new name and faces both familiar and unfamiliar.
  • If you want compost quickly and without a lot of work, give strong consideration to the rotating barrel unit.
British Dictionary definitions for unit


a single undivided entity or whole
any group or individual, esp when regarded as a basic element of a larger whole
a mechanical part or integrated assembly of parts that performs a subsidiary function: a filter unit
a complete system, apparatus, or establishment that performs a specific function: a production unit
a subdivision of a larger military formation
Also called unit of measurement. A standard amount of a physical quantity, such as length, mass, energy, etc, specified multiples of which are used to express magnitudes of that physical quantity: the second is a unit of time
the amount of a drug, vaccine, etc, needed to produce a particular effect
a standard measure used in calculating alcohol intake and its effect
  1. (usually pl) the first position in a place-value counting system, representing a single-digit number: in the decimal system the number 27 has 7 units and 2 tens
  2. (modifier) having a value defined as one for the system: unit vector
(maths, logic) Also called unit set. a set having a single member
short for home unit
short for stock unit
(NZ) a self-propelled railcar
Word Origin
C16: back formation from unity, perhaps on the model of digit


Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for unit


Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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unit in Medicine

unit u·nit (yōō'nĭt)

  1. An entity regarded as an elementary structural or functional constituent of a whole.

  2. A precisely specified quantity in terms of which the magnitudes of other quantities of the same kind can be stated.

  3. The quantity of a serum, drug, or other agent necessary to produce a specific effect.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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Slang definitions & phrases for unit

parental unit


Parent: The parental units are away for the weekend (Teenagers)



: Quentin Crisp croaks in a nasal monotone like a twinkie Mr Magoo modifier: I found this gorgeous twink carpenter in the Mission

  1. A young, sexually attractive person; tempting teenager: You know, the twink who used to be Fielding's lover/ The Weemawee twinkies troop out to the kickoff line
  2. A weird or deviant person, esp a homosexual; a social outcast: They think ''twinky'' or sissy or something like that/ Rafi comes on strong, but he's a twink at heart

[1963+; origin uncertain]

Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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Related Abbreviations for unit


  1. Unitarian
  2. Unitarianism
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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