quantity

From Middle English quantite, from Old French quantité, from Latin quantitās (“quantity”), from quantus (“how much”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɒn.tɪ.ti/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɑntɨti/, /ˈkwɑntɨɾi/, /ˈkwɑnɾɨɾi/, /ˈkwɑnɨɾi/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

    Note: This is with a relaxed middle T, and is only used in colloquial contexts by many speakers.
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɑndədi/, /ˈkwɑnɾəɾi/

  • Audio (CA)

    (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈkwæn.tɪ.ti/

quantity (countable and uncountable, plural quantities)

1. A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items.

   You have to choose between quantity and quality.

2. An indefinite amount of something.

   Some soap making oils are best as base oils, used in a larger quantity in the soap, while other oils are best added in a small quantity.

   Olive oil can be used practically in any quantity.

3. A specific measured amount.

   This bag would normally costs $497.50 for a quantity of 250, at a price of $1.99 per piece.

   Generally it should not be used in a quantity larger than 15 percent.

4. A considerable measure or amount.

   The Boeing P-26A was the first all-metal monoplane fighter produced in quantity for the U.S. Army Air Corps.

5. (metrology) Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference.
6. (mathematics) Indicates that the entire preceding expression is henceforth considered a single object.

   x plus y quantity squared equals x squared plus 2xy plus y squared.

   • 2006, Jerome E. Kaufmann and Karen Schwitters, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach, p 89

     For problems 58-67, translate each word phrase into an algebraic expression. […] 65. x plus 9, the quantity squared

   • 2005, R. Mark Sirkin, Statistics For The Social Sciences, p137

     The second, ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$ , read "summation of x, quantity squared," tells us to first add up all the xs to get ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ and then square ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ to get ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$ .

   • 1985, Serge Lang, Math!: Encounters with High School Students, p54

     ANN. ${\displaystyle ra}$ quantity cubed.

     SERGE LANG. That's right, ${\displaystyle (ra)^{3}}$ .

• In mathematics, used to unambiguously orate mathematical equations; it is extremely rare in print, since there is no need for it there.

• Qty

• unknown quantity

• measure
• unit

• quantity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• quantity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• quantity at OneLook Dictionary Search