medida

Medida is a noun in Spanish and Portuguese with several related meanings centered on size, extent, or action. In everyday language it can denote a unit of length or volume, the process of determining such quantity, or an action taken to achieve a goal, such as medidas de seguridad. The term derives from Latin mensura, via Old Spanish medida, and corresponds to Portuguese medida.

In metrology and science, measurement involves using instruments and standards to assign a numerical value to a property. A unidad de medida, such as meter or kilogram, provides a reference. Measurements carry uncertainty, and accuracy depends on calibration and method.

In mathematics, medida has a specialized sense: a measure is a function that assigns a nonnegative size to subsets of a given space, obeying countable additivity. The Lebesgue measure on Euclidean space is a canonical example; measures underpin probability, integration, and geometry.

In law and public policy, medidas are actions or policies adopted to regulate behavior or respond to a problem, e.g., medidas de seguridad or medidas fiscales. The phrase tomar medidas means to take steps. The term thus spans practical actions, quantitative assessment, and abstract mathematical constructs, all linked by the core idea of determining size, extent, or procedure.