benchmark

== English == === Alternative forms === bench mark === Etymology === From bench +‎ mark. First use appears c. 1842. Originally a mark cut into a stone by land surveyors to secure a bench (from land surveying jargon in the 19th century, meaning a type of bracket), to mount measuring equipment. The figurative sense first appears c. 1884. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɛn(t)ʃmɑːk/ Hyphenation: bench‧mark === Noun === benchmark (plural benchmarks) A standard by which something is evaluated or measured. Near-synonym: criterion A surveyor's mark made on some stationary object and shown on a map; used as a reference point. Near-synonym: datum (computing) A computer program that is executed to assess the performance of the runtime environment. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === benchmark (third-person singular simple present benchmarks, present participle benchmarking, simple past and past participle benchmarked) (transitive) To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner. (intransitive, followed by at) To give certain results in a benchmark test. (ambitransitive, followed by against) To use something (e.g., a competitor's product) as a standard to improve one's own thing. ==== Synonyms ==== (UK) kitemark yardstick ==== Derived terms ==== === References ===