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\ ˈyü-nət 
\
\Definition of unit
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : the first and least natural number : one
b : a single quantity regarded as a whole in calculation
2 : a determinate quantity (as of length, time, heat, or value) adopted as a standard of measurement: such as
a : an amount of work used in education in calculating student credits
b : an amount of a biologically active agent (such as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result — compare international unit
3a : a single thing, person, or group that is a constituent of a whole
b : a part of a military establishment that has a prescribed organization (as of personnel and materiel)
c : a piece or complex of apparatus serving to perform one particular function
d : a part of a school course focusing on a central theme
e : a local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
f : a small molecule especially when combined in a larger molecule
repeating units of a polymer
g : an area in a medical facility and especially a hospital that is specially staffed and equipped to provide a particular type of care
an intensive care unit
unit
adjectiveDefinition of unit (Entry 2 of 2)
: being, relating to, or measuring one unit
Examples of unit in a Sentence
Noun
The family is the basic unit of society.
The search party broke up into smaller units.
Their army unit guarded the border.
Feet and meters are units of length.
The dollar is the principal unit of American currency.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Five hospitals in the St. Petersburg area were out of intensive care unit beds, officials said.
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Adriana Gomez Licon And Lisa Marie Pane, The Enquirer, "Miami, Florida, imposing restrictions after COVID cases spike," 7 July 2020 The health department said 42% of the state’s hospital beds, 50% of its intensive care unit beds and 80% of its ventilator beds still are available.
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USA TODAY, "Hot dog contest, outdoor ballet, mask protests: News from around our 50 states," 7 July 2020 Eighty-nine percent of intensive care unit beds are currently occupied in Arizona.
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David Hogberg, Washington Examiner, "Texas sees record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations," 6 July 2020 Officials said intensive care unit and ventilator capacity remain steady.
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Justin L. Mack, The Indianapolis Star, "Indiana coronavirus cases: 596 new cases, 6 additional deaths reported," 5 July 2020 As of Thursday, only 15 percent of inpatient beds and 9 percent of adult intensive-care unit beds were available, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, "Peoria man says lack of hospital beds put a stop to his kidney transplant surgery," 3 July 2020 Intensive-care unit and hospital admissions are up as well.
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cleveland, "Ohio has had 46,127 coronavirus cases, up 590: Gov. Mike DeWine’s Tuesday update," 23 June 2020 Themes touched on equality, gun control, protests, family unit and natural hair.
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Briana Rice, Cincinnati.com, "'A gift to the city of Cincinnati': Black Lives Matter! mural unveiled in front of City Hall," 19 June 2020 Waukesha police were assisted by a K9 police unit and the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office in the search.
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Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Robbers held a mother and two adult children at gunpoint in Waukesha, police say," 16 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for unit
unit
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of unit
: a single thing, person, or group that is a part of something larger
: a part of a hospital where a particular type of care is provided
: a particular amount of length, time, money, etc., that is used as a standard for counting or measuring
See the full definition for unit in the English Language Learners Dictionary
unit
noun\ ˈyü-nət \
\Kids Definition of unit
1 : a single thing, person, or group forming part of a whole
There are 36 units in my apartment building.
2 : the least whole number : one
3 : a fixed quantity (as of length, time, or value) used as a standard of measurement
An inch is a unit of length.
4 : a part of a school course with a central theme
unit
noun\ ˈyü-nət \
\Medical Definition of unit
1 : an amount of a biologically active agent (as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result under strictly controlled conditions
a unit of penicillin — see international unit
2 : a small molecule especially when combined in a larger molecule
repeating units of a polymer
3 : an area in a medical facility and especially a hospital that is specially staffed and equipped to provide a particular type of care
an intensive care unit
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Time Traveler for unit
The first known use of unit was in 1570
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