Definition

1. Noun:
   • A metric unit of volume: A cubic decimeter is a unit of measurement for volume in the metric system. It is defined as the volume of a cube whose sides are exactly one decimeter (0.1 meter) in length.
   • Equal to one liter: It is exactly equivalent to one liter (L), which is the standard metric unit for measuring capacity or volume of liquids and gases.
   • Equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters: It is also equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (cm³ or cc).

Usage

• The cubic decimeter is used in scientific, medical, culinary, and everyday contexts to measure volumes, particularly of liquids and the capacities of containers.
• It is a standard unit within the International System of Units (SI). While "liter" is more common in everyday language, "cubic decimeter" is its precise SI equivalent.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The engine has a displacement of two cubic decimeters.
  • One cubic decimeter of water has a mass of approximately one kilogram at 4°C.
  • The bottle's capacity is 1.5 cubic decimeters.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Precision: In strict scientific and engineering contexts, especially those involving derived units, "cubic decimeter" (dm³) may be preferred over "liter" to maintain coherence with the SI base unit of length (the meter).
• Historical Context: The liter was originally defined in 1795 as the volume of one kilogram of water. This made it equal to one cubic decimeter. Although the definition of the liter has been refined, the equivalence with the cubic decimeter remains.

Variants and Related Words

• Liter (L or l) (n): The more common name for the same unit of volume (1 L = 1 dm³).
• Cubic centimetre (cm³ or cc) (n): A smaller metric unit of volume; 1,000 cm³ = 1 dm³.
• Decimetre (dm) (n): A unit of length equal to one-tenth of a meter, which is the linear basis for the cubic decimeter.

Synonyms

• Liter: The direct synonym for cubic decimeter in most contexts.

Notes

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this precise unit of measurement.
• The symbol for cubic decimeter is dm³.

Noun

1. a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)