Meeteenheid

Meeteenheid is the Dutch term for a unit of measurement, a defined standard used to express the magnitude of a physical quantity. A meeteenheid provides a reference that makes quantitative comparisons possible, whether in everyday life or in science and engineering. A measurement consists of a numerical value and a meeteenheid, together specifying a measurable quantity.

In most contexts, meeteenheden are organized within the International System of Units (SI). The SI defines seven base units, such as the meter for length, the kilogram for mass, and the second for time. From these base units, derived units are formed (for example newton, joule, and pascal). Some units outside the SI are still widely used but are accepted for use with SI, such as the liter for volume. The accompanying prefixes (milli-, kilo-, etc.) allow expressing large and small magnitudes. A measurement always includes a number and a meeteenheid, and the unit indicates the quantity’s dimension and scale.

The concept of a meeteenheid covers both basic and derived units, as well as commonly used non-SI units in practical settings. The choice of unit depends on context, precision, and convention; for example, length is typically expressed in meters, mass in kilograms, and time in seconds.

Standardization of meeteenheden is maintained by international and national metrology bodies. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) coordinates the definitions of SI units, while national institutes provide calibration and traceability to ensure reliable and comparable measurements across borders and applications.