order of magnitude

• Terme scientifique et technique désignant la taille ou l'échelle d'une grandeur, généralement exprimée comme une puissance de dix. Il sert à comparer la taille relative de nombres ou de valeurs, souvent en physique, en mathématiques et en ingénierie.

A scientific and technical term referring to the size or scale of a quantity, typically expressed as a power of ten. It is used to compare the relative size of numbers or values, often in physics, mathematics, and engineering.

1. Scale of size or quantityC1formal

   A class in a system of classification determined by size, typically each class being ten times the size of the previous one.

   ordre de grandeur

   • The difference in mass between the Earth and the Moon is about two orders of magnitude.
   • Estimating the cost within an order of magnitude is often sufficient for initial planning.
   • The new processor is an order of magnitude faster than its predecessor.

2. Rough estimate of sizeC1informal

   Used informally to describe a very large or very small difference in scale or importance.

   ordre de grandeur

   • The impact of the policy change was an order of magnitude greater than expected.
   • Her contribution to the project was an order of magnitude more significant than anyone else's.
   • The problem is of a different order of magnitude entirely.