magnitude
How big something
Magnitude measures size, extent, or importance.
Stars are classified by magnitude—their brightness as seen from Earth.
An earthquake's magnitude quantifies its energy release.
In mathematics, magnitude is the absolute value of a number or the length of a vector.
More loosely, magnitude describes scale or significance: a problem of some magnitude, the sheer magnitude of the task.
Seismological scale eponym
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
fault · seismic · tsunami · liquefaction · tectonics · foreshock · seismology · P-wave
Intrinsic brightness of source
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- stellarOf or like celestial bodies
- celestialOf the sky above
- starLuminous astronomical object
visibility · light-year · photometry · flux · radiance · constellation · Sirius · Vega
Quantity with direction
- scalarQuantity with magnitude only
- absolute valueNon-negative distance from zero
- normAccepted behavioral standard
- modulusAbsolute value operation
quantity · coordinate · component · direction · distance · length · complex number · real number
Power to exert force
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- forceStrength or compulsion
- severityIntensity of sternness
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
degree · level · extent · potency · vigor · ferocity · fury · violence
Measurable extent or scope
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- volumeAmount of space filled
- capacityMaximum amount containable
- areaExtent of surface
length · width · height · depth · bulk · mass · extent · breadth
Limitless extent or magnitude
- enormityGrave wickedness or immensity
- hugenessExtreme greatness in size
- boundlessnessAbsence of any boundary
- infinitudeUnlimited extent or quantity
cosmic scale · galactic · astronomical · colossal · monumental · titanic · staggering · unfathomable
Quality of mattering
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- consequenceResult of an action
- impactForceful contact or consequence
seriousness · momentousness · import · substance · salience · criticality · urgency · noteworthiness
Based on exponents
- exponentialIncreasing by constant ratio
- factorContributor to result
- multiplierNumber that scales another
- ratioComparative numerical relation
comparison · relative · absolute · benchmark · index · metric · gradation · increment
Richter
Seismological scale eponym
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
aftershock · fault · seismic · tsunami · liquefaction · tectonics · foreshock · seismology · P-wave · S-wave
luminosity
Intrinsic brightness of source
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- stellarOf or like celestial bodies
- celestialOf the sky above
star · visibility · light-year · photometry · flux · radiance · constellation · Sirius · Vega · naked eye
vector
Quantity with direction
- scalarQuantity with magnitude only
- absolute valueNon-negative distance from zero
- normAccepted behavioral standard
modulus · quantity · coordinate · component · direction · distance · length · complex number · real number · calculus
strength
Power to exert force
amplitude · degree · level · extent · potency · vigor · ferocity · fury · violence · punch
dimension
Measurable extent or scope
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- volumeAmount of space filled
- capacityMaximum amount containable
area · length · width · height · depth · bulk · mass · extent · breadth · scope
immensity
Limitless extent or magnitude
- enormityGrave wickedness or immensity
- hugenessExtreme greatness in size
- boundlessnessAbsence of any boundary
infinitude · cosmic scale · galactic · astronomical · colossal · monumental · titanic · staggering · unfathomable · incomprehensible
significance
Quality of mattering
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- consequenceResult of an action
impact · seriousness · momentousness · import · substance · salience · criticality · urgency · noteworthiness · prominence
logarithmic
Based on exponents
- exponentialIncreasing by constant ratio
- factorContributor to result
- multiplierNumber that scales another
ratio · comparison · relative · absolute · benchmark · index · metric · gradation · increment · calibration
- vectorsvector field, resultant, direction, component, dot product
- Disaster ScalesRichter scale, hurricane category, category one, category four, category five
- earthquake engineeringearthquake engineering, seismic waves, liquefaction, seismic risk, dampers
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- lightsunlight, daylight, shine, rays, moonlight
- measurementsheight, stature, meters, depth, pound
magnitudesmallness
Minimal physical extent
tininess · minuteness · littleness · diminutiveness · puniness
magnitudeinsignificance
Lack of consequence or weight
triviality · unimportance · inconsequence · pettiness · paltriness
- orders of magnitudeExponential scale differences
- earthquake magnitudeSeismic event strength measure
- magnitude scaleSeismic event measurement system