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Glite Dictionary
International System of Units

International System of Units

3.5
A modern system of measurement used worldwide that defines units like the meter and kilogram
  • noun
  • /ˌɪntəˈnæʃənl ˈsɪstəm əv ˈjuːnɪts/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sistema Internacional de Unidades
  • Scientists around the world rely on the International System of Units to standardize their measurements.

Examples

  • Slater C, Preston T, Weaver LT. 2001. Stable isotopes and the international system of units. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 15: 1270-1273.

    Academic text (2011)

  • I also learned that the kilogram is part of the International System of Units.

    Academic text (2012)

  • All measurements are presented in both common units and in the International System of Units (SI), commonly called metric units.

    Blog text (26)

  • The meter is one of the seven basic units defined in the International System of Units.

  • In education, students learn the importance of the International System of Units for accurate scientific communication.

Synonyms

SI
vsInternational System of Units
  • Specialized
9 3.7

A worldwide system for measurements using units like the meter, kilogram, and second

is the formal term listing the seven specific base units
metric system
vsInternational System of Units
8 2.6

A system of measurement using meters, kilograms, and seconds

is broader and specifies seven base units beyond those three
International System
vsInternational System of Units
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A standard set of units like metre and kilogram that people use worldwide to measure

is the exact modern set of seven base units used worldwide
Système International d'Unités
vsInternational System of Units
  • Specialized
4.1

An international metric system of measurement used in science and engineering, with units like the metre and kilogram

is the official modern system defined by seven fundamental units
SI system
vsInternational System of Units
  • Specialized
3.4

A standard metric system for measuring things used worldwide in science and industry

is the precise global system built from seven base units
Système International
vsInternational System of Units
  • Specialized
4.1

An international system of units used in science like the meter and kilogram

is the formal modern system emphasizing seven fundamental units

Surface Forms

International System of Units singular
International Systems of Units plural

Morphology

international + system + of + unit

The phrase is fully compositional: 'international' (involving countries) modifies 'system of units' (a formalized set of measurement standards), so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer it refers to a globally used measurement system. This construction is cross‑linguistically common and follows ordinary noun‑phrase composition, making the meaning transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

International System of Units is named for the idea of a single measuring 'toolbox' for the world: international means many countries, system means a set of rules, and units are the things we use to measure, like the meter, kilogram, and second. That's why countries and scientists use the 'SI' to 'measure the same way' worldwide.