benchmark

Meanings

Noun

a standard by which something can be measured or judged
- "his painting sets the benchmark of quality"
a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point
A standard by which something is evaluated or measured.
A surveyor's mark made on some stationary object and shown on a map; used as a reference point.
A computer program that is executed to assess the performance of the runtime environment.

Verb

To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner.
To give certain results in a benchmark test.
To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner.
To use something (e.g., a competitor's product) as a standard to improve one's own thing.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

bench mark, kitemark, yardstick

Scrabble Score: 22

benchmark is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
benchmark is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
benchmark is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 25

benchmark is a valid Words With Friends word