The Collaborative International Dictionary
Quantity \Quan"ti*ty\, n.; pl. Quantities. [F. quantite, L. quantitas, fr. quantus bow great, how much, akin to quam bow, E. how, who. See Who.]
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The attribute of being so much, and not more or less; the property of being measurable, or capable of increase and decrease, multiplication and division; greatness; and more concretely, that which answers the question ``How much?''; measure in regard to bulk or amount; determinate or comparative dimensions; measure; amount; bulk; extent; size. Hence, in specific uses:
(Logic) The extent or extension of a general conception, that is, the number of species or individuals to which it may be applied; also, its content or comprehension, that is, the number of its constituent qualities, attributes, or relations.
(Gram.) The measure of a syllable; that which determines the time in which it is pronounced; as, the long or short quantity of a vowel or syllable.
(Mus.) The relative duration of a tone.
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That which can be increased, diminished, or measured; especially (Math.), anything to which mathematical processes are applicable.
Note: Quantity is discrete when it is applied to separate objects, as in number; continuous, when the parts are connected, either in succession, as in time, motion, etc., or in extension, as by the dimensions of space, viz., length, breadth, and thickness.
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A determinate or estimated amount; a sum or bulk; a certain portion or part; sometimes, a considerable amount; a large portion, bulk, or sum; as, a medicine taken in quantities, that is, in large quantities.
The quantity of extensive and curious information which he had picked up during many months of desultory, but not unprofitable, study.
--Macaulay.Quantity of estate (Law), its time of continuance, or degree of interest, as in fee, for life, or for years.
--Wharton (Law Dict. )Quantity of matter, in a body, its mass, as determined by its weight, or by its momentum under a given velocity.
Quantity of motion (Mech.), in a body, the relative amount of its motion, as measured by its momentum, varying as the product of mass and velocity.
Known quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are given.
Unknown quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are sought.
Wiktionary
n. (plural of quantity English)
Usage examples of "quantities".
While gradually Aurigae was beginning to supply all agricultural needs and even manufacture needed parts for its technologies, she still had to haul in significant quantities of food stuffs and a multitude of the bits and pieces that Aurigae did not have the time or facilities to manufacture for itself More to the point, she had to send off immense loads of the raw ores, minerals and rare earths which made the Aurigae colony valuable, and affluent: commodities that in the main went into the manufacture of the low-pulse radar warning systems for other star systems.
When Hrrto arranged for substantial quantities of purralinium, she would look a fool, Fifth would lose face and Hrrto gain it in the contest for the Speakership.
Under the screens were cabinets of a type in which crystals storing huge quantities of data were carefully filed along with additional compact devices that he did not recognize but took for astronomical data-recorders.
Harlan made me take considerable quantities of that brew once he felt me shivering through Ore's jacket.
She continued to weep quietly, falling into a little lump on a chair, until I thought to have her go with Ittlo to get quantities of the stimulating beverage.
Such will be need to be made much larger to fit Gringg, but we wish to trade for quantities of harness.
The prospect of almost unlimited quantities of purralinium was worth a certain risk, was it not?
Hrrestan was deep in discussions with the craftsfolk about the availability of large quantities of well-tanned leathers and they all left.
Not knowing how much a Gringg ate, Mike had made arrangements with the cafeteria cook for double quantities of everything.
He would be remembered, however, perhaps as often as Hrruna, as the Stripe who had secured unlimited quantities of purralinium from the Gringg.
But the stuff was circu lating in greater quantities than had ever reached Wil mington before.
Blood was pumping from several wounds in such quantities that Varian wondered how much more it could lose before collapsing.
Lunzie's smile had a touch of malice for the men of the Zaid-Dayan had imbibed massive quantities of her brew.
None of the all-important protein stores were gone, but quantities of the mineral supplements had vanished as well as a lot of vegetable carbohydrates.
One of the acids involved, when used in the quantities required for manufacturing, released a gas whose effects on human tissue were slow, painful, deadly .