weight unit
1
2.9
- noun
- In the metric system, the basic weight unit is the gram, which is used for measuring small amounts.
Examples
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That seems wrong to me because that calculation compares absorptions of IR per weight unit, whereas it would be correct to use volume (i.e., moles), not weight.
Blog text (15) -
A standard weight unit in the United States is the pound, commonly used for food and other goods.
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When buying produce, it is often sold by the weight unit of kilograms or pounds.
Synonyms
168
2.1
A fixed amount used to measure or count things
3
3.2
A fixed amount used as a standard to measure length, weight, or volume
1
2.7
A standard amount used to measure things like length or weight
1
2.4
A unit of measurement used in the metric system, like a meter or kilogram
1
3.0
An agreed unit used to measure and compare things
1
3.0
A unit used to measure how heavy something is, like a gram or kilogram
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a standard unit used for measuring weight' is directly and compositionally built from 'weight' (heaviness) + 'unit' (defined measurement), so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning. This noun-noun compound follows a common cross-linguistic measurement pattern and is therefore immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.
Etymology
Weight unit comes from a simple old idea: people used a real weight (a stone or a metal bar) as one fixed unit to measure goods. So a weight unit today (like a gram or a pound) is a standard amount 'to measure how heavy something is'.