dimensionnoun/daɪˈmɛn.ʃən/

• 1

  A single aspect of a given thing.

  • This film can be enjoyed on many dimensions - the script is great, the acting is realistic, and the special effects will simply take you aback.
• 2

  A measure of spatial extent in a particular direction, such as height, width or breadth, or depth.

  • However, tubes of the same dimensions also look like solid cylinders, because their ovals are automatically treated as the top or bottom faces of solids.
  • I can tell you that in your universe you move freely in three dimensions that you call space. […] After that it gets a bit complicated, and there's all sort of stuff going on in dimensions thirteen to twenty-two that you really wouldn't want to know about.
• 3

  A construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished.

• 4

  geometrymathematicssciencesThe number of independent coordinates needed to specify uniquely the location of a point in a space; also, any of such independent coordinates.

• 5

  linear-algebramathematicssciencesThe number of elements of any basis of a vector space.

• 6

  natural-sciencesphysical-sciencesphysicsOne of the physical properties that are regarded as fundamental measures of a physical quantity, such as mass, length and time.

  • The dimension of velocity is length divided by time.
  • On this last point Lenin is inconsistent, for he himself confidently answers various questions of physics: for example, he says that it is reactionary nonsense to claim that there can be more than three dimensions, and all forms of indeterminism are likewise nonsensical.
• 7

  computingengineeringmathematicsAny of the independent ranges of indices in a multidimensional array.

• 8

  fantasyliteraturemediaA universe or plane of existence.

  • a machine that lets you travel to a parallel dimension.
  • "If a man should wish to be in some other place, it is entirely possible for him to imagine himself in that place and, diving back through the negative dimension, to emerge out of it in that place with instantaneous rapidity. To imagine oneself———"

dimensionverb/daɪˈmɛn.ʃən/

• 1

  To mark, cut or shape something to specified dimensions.

  • Nameless and formless the Spirit within shines forth, unconditioned and everlasting. What name is befitting the soul? How shall Infinite Effulgence be manifested? Too great a light blinds the senses. Too great a truth is too exhilarating for the student. The boundless, infinite Sentience, incomprehensibly dimensioned in Being and Intelligence, rests Unseen and Unthinkable in the shore of His Own omnipresent and superomnipresent consciousness.
  • The mechanical drawing artist almost automatically lays down a triangle in order to draw a line in the desired place. Data entry for AutoCAD, by contrast, requires you to think in terms of coordinate positions rather than in the customary patterns of dimensioning.
• 2

  computingengineeringmathematicsTo specify the size of (an array or similar data structure); to allocate.

  • Dimension an array to hold only as much data as you intend to put into it.