yardstick
Three-foot measuring rod
A yardstick is a measuring stick one yard (three feet) long, used for measuring length.
Figuratively, a yardstick is any standard of comparison or evaluation: Profit is not the only yardstick of success.
The figurative sense dominates in contemporary usage.
Level of quality accepted
- measureUnit of quantity
- gaugeStandard of measurement
- baselineStandard for comparison
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
touchstone · barometer · metric · indicator · criterion · norm · index · litmus
One who governs
- meterstickOne-hundred-centimeter measuring tool
- tapeAdhesive strip on roll
- straightedgeLine-drawing tool
- footageRecorded video material
length · dimension · span · calibration · graduated · inches · feet · markings
Measure of relative size
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- equivalenceState of being equal
- parityState of being equal
- analogueSomething functionally similar
differential · correlation · ratio · relativity · contrast · juxtaposition · assessment · appraisal
standard
Level of quality accepted
reference · touchstone · barometer · metric · indicator · criterion · norm · index · litmus · bellwether
ruler
One who governs
- meterstickOne-hundred-centimeter measuring tool
- tapeAdhesive strip on roll
- straightedgeLine-drawing tool
footage · length · dimension · span · calibration · graduated · inches · feet · markings · notches
scale
Measure of relative size
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- equivalenceState of being equal
- parityState of being equal
analogue · differential · correlation · ratio · relativity · contrast · juxtaposition · assessment · appraisal · evaluation
assessment
Formal evaluation of worth
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- appraisalEstimation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
rating · review · critique · scrutiny · examination · estimation · valuation · rubric · criteria · scoring
- measuring toolstape measure, ruler, tablespoon, teaspoon, caliper
- standardsstandard, standards, norm, norms, criterion
- measuring rodsmeterstick, ruler, folding rule
- measurementscales, gauging, balance, metering, gram
- measuring devicesthermometer, barometer, scale, ruler, tape measure
- sewing suppliesneedle, needles, thread, pins, scissors
yardstickaberration
Deviation from the norm
anomaly · deviation · outlier · abnormality · exception
yardstickguesswork
Conclusions drawn without proof
rough estimate · approximation · ballpark figure · guesstimate · gut feeling
yardsticktape measure
Flexible marked length finder
measuring tape · cloth tape · string · rope