What is a Standard?
stan•dard
1. A flag, banner or ensign, especially:
a. The ensign of a chief of state, nation or city
b. A long, tapering flag bearing heraldic devices distinctive of a person or corporation
c. An emblem or flag of an army, raised on a pole to indicate the rallying point in battle
d. The colors of a mounted or motorized military unit
2. An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion
3. An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit
4. The set proportion by weight of gold or silver to alloy metal prescribed for use in coinage
5. The commodity or commodities used to back a monetary system
6. Something, such as a practice or a product, that is widely recognized or employed, especially because of its excellence.
a. A degree or level of requirement, excellence, or attainment
b. A requirement of moral conduct. Often used in the plural
7. Chiefly British. A grade level in elementary schools
8. A pedestal, stand, or base
9. Botany
a. The large upper petal of the flower of a pea or related plant
b. One of the narrow upright petals of an iris. Also called banner, vexillum.
10. A shrub or small tree that through grafting or training has a single stem of lighted height with a crown of leaves and flowers at its apex
11. Music. A composition that is continually used in repertoires