magnitude
/ˈmægnɪtjuːd/noun
mass noun
1
- the great size or extent of something巨大, 广大, 庞大：
they may feel discouraged at the magnitude of the task before them.
面对如此巨大的任务, 他们可能会感到气馁。
1.1
- great importance重要, 重大, 重要性：
events of tragic magnitude.
惨祸。
2
- size规模; 尺寸; 大小：
electorates of less than average magnitude.
低于平均人数的选区选民。
2.1
- count noun a numerical quantity or value数量; 数值：
the magnitudes of all the economic variables could be determined.
所有经济变量的数值都可以计算出来。
3
- the degree of brightness of a star. The magnitude of an astronomical object is now reckoned as the negative logarithm of the brightness; a decrease of one magnitude represents an increase in brightness of 2.512 times.星等（星的亮度）
3.1
- count noun the class into which a star falls by virtue of its brightness星等（亮度等级）。
3.2
- count noun a difference of one on a scale of brightness, treated as a unit of measurement星等差。
词源
late Middle English （also in the sense 'greatness of character'）： from Latin magnitudo, from magnus 'great'.