Is a 'cup' a dry measure?

In a technical sense, yes, a measuring cup for flour or sugar is a dry measure. However, in modern everyday language, we simply say 'measuring cup'. The term 'dry measure' is used for systems and traditional units.

What's the difference between a dry quart and a liquid quart?

In the US customary system, a dry quart (approx. 1.101 litres) is slightly larger than a liquid quart (approx. 0.946 litres). They are different volumes for measuring different types of goods.

Do people still use dry measures today?

Yes, but primarily in specific industries like agriculture (e.g., bushels of corn in the US) and in some traditional recipes. Most everyday cooking now uses weight (grams) or common cup measures without specifying 'dry'.

Why is it called 'dry' measure?

It distinguishes it from 'liquid measure'. The systems evolved separately because dry goods (like grain) are granular and settle, requiring different handling and container shapes compared to liquids.

dry measure

UK/ˌdraɪ ˈmeʒə/US/ˌdraɪ ˈmeʒər/

Technical / Historical

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A unit or system for measuring the volume of dry commodities (e.g., grains, fruits, powders) rather than liquids or weight.

The actual container (such as a cup or bushel) used to measure such goods, or the quantity it contains. It can also refer historically to traditional units like the peck or bushel.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The term is primarily associated with agriculture, cooking (especially historical/baking recipes), and commerce of bulk goods. It contrasts explicitly with 'liquid measure'. Modern usage is largely confined to specific contexts; in everyday life, metric or imperial weight is more common.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Both use the term identically. The specific units (e.g., bushel, peck) have the same names, though the actual imperial volumes for a bushel differ slightly between the UK and US systems.

Connotations

In both regions, it carries connotations of traditional farming, old recipes, or historical markets. It is not part of contemporary casual speech.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both dialects, limited to specialised fields like agriculture, historical studies, or traditional baking.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

bushelpecksystem ofunit ofstandard

medium

traditionalagriculturalimperialvolumegrain

weak

accuratewoodenhistoricalrecipemarket

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[dry measure] of [commodity]measured by [dry measure]a [unit] in dry measure

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

dry volume unitdry capacity measure

Weak

dry goods measurebulk measure

Vocabulary

Antonyms

liquid measureweight measuremetric weight

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in commodity trading or agricultural contracts specifying volume (e.g., 'sold by the bushel').

Academic

Appears in historical, agricultural, or metrological texts discussing pre-metric systems.

Everyday

Very rare. Might appear in an old cookbook or a conversation about gardening yields.

Technical

Precise term in agriculture, milling, and some cooking specifications for bulk ingredients.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

The dry-measure bushel differed from the liquid one.
He consulted a dry-measure conversion table.

American English

She needed a dry-measure cup for the flour.
The old dry-measure standards are still referenced.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The recipe called for a peck of apples, which is a dry measure.

Farmers historically sold grain by dry measure, using units like the bushel and the peck.

The 18th-century statute redefined the imperial dry measure, standardising the Winchester bushel for grain volumes.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a DRY farmer MEASURING his DRY wheat with a DRY wooden box called a bushel.

Conceptual Metaphor

CONTAINER FOR QUANTITY (The measure is the container defining the amount).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid translating as 'сухая мера' (makes no sense). The concept is 'мера объёма для сыпучих тел' or 'емкостная мера'.
Do not confuse with 'dry measure' meaning a measurement of dryness; it's about commodity type, not humidity.

Common Mistakes

Using 'dry measure' to refer to measuring the dryness of something (e.g., soil moisture).
Confusing it with weight (e.g., 'a pound of flour' is weight, not dry measure).
Assuming modern measuring cups are 'dry measures'—while true technically, the term isn't used colloquially.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In traditional baking, a is a common dry measure for flour.

Multiple Choice

What does 'dry measure' specifically refer to?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: In a technical sense, yes, a measuring cup for flour or sugar is a dry measure. However, in modern everyday language, we simply say 'measuring cup'. The term 'dry measure' is used for systems and traditional units.
: In the US customary system, a dry quart (approx. 1.101 litres) is slightly larger than a liquid quart (approx. 0.946 litres). They are different volumes for measuring different types of goods.
: Yes, but primarily in specific industries like agriculture (e.g., bushels of corn in the US) and in some traditional recipes. Most everyday cooking now uses weight (grams) or common cup measures without specifying 'dry'.
: It distinguishes it from 'liquid measure'. The systems evolved separately because dry goods (like grain) are granular and settle, requiring different handling and container shapes compared to liquids.