avoirdupois unit
- noun
- /ˌævərdəˈpwɑː/
- Specialized
:
unidad avoirdupois
- The pound is the most commonly used avoirdupois unit in the United States.
Examples
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Grain is the smallest avoirdupois unit still in use in some measurements.
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She learned to convert between metric grams and each avoirdupois unit during her science class.
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The avoirdupois unit is commonly used in the United States.
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Many recipes require measurements in avoirdupois units.
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The pound is the most commonly used avoirdupois unit in the United States.
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She learned to convert between metric grams and each avoirdupois unit during her science class.
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Many recipes require measurements in avoirdupois units for accuracy.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is transparently compositional: 'avoirdupois' denotes a weight system and 'unit' denotes a measurement quantity, so 'avoirdupois unit' straightforwardly means a unit of that weight system (e.g. pound or ounce). Although somewhat technical, the noun–noun modifier pattern is standard and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can deduce the meaning.
Etymology
The term avoirdupois unit may come from old French words that meant 'to have weight', and avoirdupois was used for items sold by weight. So a avoirdupois unit is a unit like a pound or ounce for measuring how heavy something is, which is why we still use the term for everyday weights.
