standard */*/*/

I UK [ˈstændə(r)d] / US [ˈstændərd] noun
Word forms "standard":
singular standard plural standards

1)

a) [countable/uncountable] a level of quality or achievement, especially one that people generally consider normal or acceptable

standard of:

higher standards of service in hospitals

raise/improve/lower standards:

What can be done to raise standards in schools?

meet/achieve/conform to/comply with standards:

They must supply water that complies with medical health standards.

set (someone) a standard:

He sets himself high standards.

Laurence Olivier set the standard for (= was the best example of) acting in the 20th century.

below/not up to standard:

The food was not up to standard.

of a high/low standard:

She always produces work of a high standard.

b) [countable, usually plural] a level of quality or achievement used for judging someone or something

The work must conform to industry standards.

by any standard(s):

The building was still magnificent by any standards.

by someone's/something's standards:

Getting up at 8 o'clock was early by her standards.

The first computers were terribly slow by today's standards.

2) standards

[plural] traditional principles of good behaviour

declining moral standards

3)

a) [countable] a flag that represents a particular person or group and is used on special occasions

b) a flag or other symbol that is carried on a pole at the front of a military march

4) [countable] a song that has become well known and is performed by a lot of different singers or bands

•

See:

standard of living

II UK [ˈstændə(r)d] / US [ˈstændərd] adjective

1) generally used or accepted as normal

It's a standard reply that the company sends out to applicants.

as standard:

All the cars are fitted with an alarm as standard.

standard practice/procedure:

It is standard practice for the school to inform the parents whenever a child is punished.

2) [usually before noun] made or done according to a generally accepted set of rules, measurements etc

The promotional pack was 20 per cent bigger than the standard size.

3) [only before noun] a standard book or work is one that most people use because it is the most respected in a particular subject

This condition is not mentioned in standard medical textbooks.

4) generally accepted as correct

the teaching of Standard English