datum
[ dey-tuh m, dat-uh m, dah-tuh m ]
/ ˈdeɪ təm, ˈdæt əm, ˈdɑ təm /
noun, plural da·ta [dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh] /ˈdeɪ tə, ˈdæt ə, ˈdɑ tə/ for 1–3, da·tums for 4, 5.
a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data.
Philosophy.
- any fact assumed to be a matter of direct observation.
- any proposition assumed or given, from which conclusions may be drawn.
Also called sense datum. Epistemology.
the object of knowledge as presented to the mind.
Compare ideatum.
Surveying, Civil Engineering.
any level surface, line, or point used as a reference in measuring elevations.
Surveying.
a basis for horizontal control surveys, consisting of the longitude and latitude of a certain point, the azimuth of a certain line from this point, and two constants used in defining the terrestrial spheroid.
Origin of datum
1640–50; < Latin: a thing given, neuter past participle of
dare to give
usage note for datum
See
data.
Example sentences from the Web for datum
British Dictionary definitions for datum
datum
/ (ˈdeɪtəm, ˈdɑːtəm) /
noun plural -ta (-tə)
a single piece of information; fact
a proposition taken for granted, often in order to construct some theoretical framework upon it; a given
See also sense datum
Word Origin for datum
C17: from Latin: something given; see
data