A basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated.

synonyms: measure, standard, touchstone.

Roget 550: indication; symbolism, symbolization; semiology, semiotics, semeiology^†, semeiotics^†; Zeitgeist.    [means of recognition: property] characteristic, diagnostic; lineament, feature, trait; fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint [for animals]; cloven hoof; footfall; recognition (memory) 505.    [means of recognition: tool] diagnostic, divining rod; detector.    sign, symbol; index, indice^†, indicator; point, pointer; exponent, note, token, symptom; dollar sign, dollar mark.    type, figure, emblem, cipher, device; representation etc. 554; epigraph, motto, posy.    gesture, gesticulation; pantomime; wink, glance, leer; nod, shrug, beck; touch, nudge; dactylology^†, dactylonomy^†; freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology [Med.], byplay, dumb show; cue; hint etc. 527; clue, clew, key, scent.    signal, signal post; rocket, blue light; watch fire, watch tower; telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff; cresset^†, fiery cross; calumet; heliograph; guidon; headlight.    [sign (evidence) on physobj of contact with another physobj] mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick.    print; imprint, impress, impression.    [symbols accompanying written text to signify modified interpretation] keyboard symbols, printing symbols; [Symbols for emphasis], red letter, italics, sublineation^†, underlining, bold font; jotting; note, annotation, reference; blaze, cedilla, guillemets^†, hachure [Topo.]; [Special Characters list], quotation marks, "; double quotes, " "; parentheses, "( )"; brackets, "[ ]"; braces, "{ }", curly brackets; arrows, slashes; left parenthesis, "("; right parenthesis, ")"; opening bracket, "["; closing bracket, "]"; left curly brace, "{"; right curly brace, "}"; left arrow, ""; forward slash, "/"; backward slash, "\\"; exclamation point, "!"; commercial at, "@"; pound sign, "#"; percent sign, "%"; carat, "^"; ampersand, "&"; asterisk, "*"; hyphen, "-"; dash, "-", "_"; em dash, "--"; plus sign, "+"; equals sign, "="; question mark, "?"; period, "."; semicolon, ";"; colon, ":"; comma, ","; apostrophe, "'"; single quote, "'"; tilde, "~". [For identification: general] badge, criterion; countercheck^†, countermark^†, countersign, counterfoil; duplicate, tally; label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop; dib^†; totem; tessera^†, card, bill; witness, voucher; stamp; cacher [Fr.]; trade mark, Hall mark.    [For identification of people, on a document] signature, mark, autograph, autography; attestation; hand, hand writing, sign manual; cipher; seal, sigil [Lat.], signet, hand and seal [Law]; paraph^†, brand; superscription; indorsement^†, endorsement.    [For identification of people, to gain access to restricted (locations or information)] password, watchword, catchword; security card, pass, passkey; credentials etc. (evidence) 467; open sesame; timbrology^†; mot de passe [Fr.], mot du guet [Fr.]; pass-parole; shibboleth.    title, heading, docket.    address card, visiting card; carte de visite [Fr.].    insignia; banner, banneret^†, bannerol^†; bandrol^†; flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum^†, oriflamb^†, oriflamme; figurehead; ensign; pennon, pennant, pendant; burgee^†, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack; banderole, old glory [U.S.], quarantine flag; vexillum^†; yellow-flag, yellow jack; tricolor, stars and stripes; bunting.    heraldry, crest; coat of arms, arms; armorial bearings, hatchment^†; escutcheon, scutcheon; shield, supporters; livery, uniform; cockade, epaulet, chevron; garland, love knot, favor.    [Of locality] beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock; guidepost, handpost^†, fingerpost^†, directing post, signpost; pillars of Hercules, pharos; bale-fire, beacon-fire; l'etoile du Nord [Fr.]; landmark, seamark; lighthouse, balize^†; polestar, loadstar^†, lodestar; cynosure, guide; address, direction, name; sign, signboard.    [Of the future] warning etc. 668; omen etc. 512; prefigurement etc. 511.    [Of the past] trace, record &c., 551.    [Of danger] warning etc. 668, alarm etc. 669.    [of authority]. scepter etc. 747.    [of triumph]. trophy etc. 733.    [of quantity]. gauge etc. 466.    [Of Distance] milestone, milepost.    [Of disgrace], brand, fool's cap.    [For detection], check, telltale; test etc. (experiment) 463; mileage ticket; milliary^†.    notification etc. (information) 527; advertisement etc. (publication) 531.    word of command, call; bugle call, trumpet call; bell, alarum, cry; battle cry, rallying cry; angelus^†; reveille; sacring bell^†, sanctus bell [Lat.].    exposition etc. (explanation) 522, proof etc. (evidence) 463; pattern etc. (prototype) 22.    ... show more

Roget 463: experiment; essay etc. (attempt) 675; analysis etc. (investigation) 461; screen; trial, tentative method, t=atonnement.    verification, probation, experimentum crucis [Lat.], proof, (demonstration) 478; criterion, diagnostic, test, probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test.    crucible, reagent, check, touchstone, pix^†; assay, ordeal; ring; litmus paper, curcuma paper^†, turmeric paper; test tube; analytical instruments etc. 633.    empiricism, rule of thumb.    feeler; trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon; pilot engine; scout; straw to show the wind.    speculation, random shot, leap in the dark.    analyzer, analyst, assayist^†; adventurer; experimenter, experimentist^†, experimentalist; scientist, engineer, technician.    subject, experimentee^†, guinea pig, experimental animal.    [experimental method] protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment.    poll, survey, opinion poll.    epidemiological survey [Med.], retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis; statistical analysis.    literature search, library research.    tryout, audition.    [results of experiment] discovery etc. 480; measurement etc. 466; evidence etc. 467.    [reasoning about an experiment] deduction, induction, abduction.    ... show more

Roget 467: evidence; facts, premises, data, praecognita [Lat.], grounds.    indication etc. 550; criterion etc. (test) 463.    testimony, testification^†, expert testimony; attestation; deposition etc. (affirmation) 535; examination.    admission etc. (assent) 488; authority, warrant, credential, diploma, voucher, certificate, doquet^†, docket; testamur^†; record etc. 551; document; pi ce justificative^†; deed, warranty etc. (security) 771; signature, seal etc. (identification) 550; exhibit, material evidence, objective evidence.    witness, indicator, hostile witness; eyewitness, earwitness, material witness, state's evidence; deponent; sponsor; cojuror^†.    oral evidence, documentary evidence, hearsay evidence, external evidence, extrinsic evidence, internal evidence, intrinsic evidence, circumstantial evidence, cumulative evidence, ex parte evidence [Lat.], presumptive evidence, collateral evidence, constructive evidence; proof etc. (demonstration) 478; evidence in chief.    secondary evidence; confirmation, corroboration, support; ratification etc. (assent) 488; authentication; compurgation^†, wager of law, comprobation^†.    citation, reference; legal research, literature search (experiment) 463.    ... show more

Dutch: toetssteen, lengte, criterium, graadmeter, maatstaf, norm, normering, standaard
Polish: kryterium

The ideal in terms of which something can be judged.

synonym: standard.