Datum Meaning
/ˈdeɪtəm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounSomething known or assumed as fact, and is made the basis of reasoning or inference which an intellectual system of any sort (such as knowledge or theoretical framework) is constructed.
nounSingular of data: A single recorded phenomenon, especially obtained by scientific work.
Sentence Examples
A tide gauge measures changes in sea level relative to a datum (a height reference).
The singular of 'data' is 'datum'.
Each singular datum was carefully analyzed by the research team.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Each ____ is recorded separately in the log.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A tide gauge measures changes in sea level relative to a ____ (a height reference).
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *deh₃-redup. Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *dédeh₃ti Proto-Italic *didō Latin dō Latin datusnom. Latin datumlbor. English datum Learned borrowing from Latin datum, a nominalization of datus, perfect passive participle of dō, from Proto-Italic *didō, from Proto-Indo-European *dédeh₃ti, reduplication of *deh₃-, or from *-ti. Doublet of die.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In a strict sense, a tidal datum can be understood as the reference plane (or surface) to which the height of a predicted tide is referred.[…]Sounding and chart datums are low water datums, that is, they refer to the level of the water surface at low tide. Nonetheless, there are also datums based on high water levels.[…]These two different datums may be included in the broader category of vertical datums, which comprises any plane or surface used as a reference to measure vertical distances (such as depths, drying features, heights on shore, etc.)."
— 2000, Nuno Sergio Marques Antunes, “The Importance of the Tidal Datum in the Definition of Maritime Limits and Boundaries”, in Maritime Briefing, volume 2, number 7, International Boundaries Research Unit, University of Durham, page 5:
"Datums are another important map aspect related to projection. A datum provides a base reference for measuring locations on Earth's surface."
— 2007, Roger F Tomlinson, Thinking about GIS: geographic information system planning for managers:
"For horizontal measurements [on the Earth], we fix a mathematical body of Earth in space using a Cartesian coordinate system. After that, a separate coordinate system is created over the surface of this body to generate horizontal coordinates. A mathematical earth body fixed in space makes up the horizontal datum."
— 2012, Yong-Qi Chen, Yuk-Cheung Lee, chapter 2.3, in Geographical Data Acquisition:
"Removing the effects of any period of deformation by datuming or flattening selective reflection horizons should restore the structure prior to the datumed horizon, or the amount of deformation above the datumed horizon."
— 1982, Paul M. Tucker, Pitfalls Revisited - Issue 3, →ISBN, page 6:
"On the left the stacking velocity functions are datumed to sea level and show great disparity."
— 1998, Stuart Fagin, Model-based Depth Imaging, →ISBN, page 164:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Each ____ is recorded separately in the log.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A tide gauge measures changes in sea level relative to a ____ (a height reference).