module

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A standard or unit of measurement.
2. n. Architecture The dimensions of a structural component, such as the base of a column, used as a unit of measurement or standard for determining the proportions of the rest of the construction.
3. n. A standardized, often interchangeable component of a system or construction that is designed for easy assembly or flexible use: a sofa consisting of two end modules.
4. n. Electronics A self-contained assembly of electronic components and circuitry, such as a stage in a computer, that is installed as a unit.
5. n. Computer Science A portion of a program that carries out a specific function and may be used alone or combined with other modules of the same program.
6. n. A self-contained unit of a spacecraft that performs a specific task or class of tasks in support of the major function of the craft.
7. n. A unit of education or instruction with a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio, in which a single topic or a small section of a broad topic is studied for a given period of time.
8. n. Mathematics A system with scalars coming from a ring.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A little measure; hence, a small quantity.
2. n. In architecture, a standard of measure often taken, particularly in antiquity and the middle ages, to regulate the proportions of an order or the disposition of an entire building. In the classical styles the diameter or semidiameter of the column at the base of the shaft is usually selected as the module, and this is subdivided into parts or minutes, the diameter generally into sixty or the semidiameter into thirty. Some architects employ no fixed number of divisions of the module, but divide it into as many parts as they deem serviceable for the work in hand.
3. n. A model or representation; a mold; a pattern.
4. n. In numismatics, the size of a coin or medal, measured by the diameter.
5. To model; shape.
6. To modulate.
7. n. Equivalent to the phrase with congruence-modulus. See modulus of a congruence, under modulus.

Wiktionary

1. n. A self-contained component of a system, often interchangeable, which has a well-defined interface to the other components.
2. n. architecture A standard unit of measure used for determining the proportions of a building.
3. n. computing A section of a program; a subroutine or group of subroutines.
4. n. A unit of education covering a single topic.
5. n. A pre-prepared adventure scenario with related materials for a role-playing game.
6. n. mathematics An abelian group.
7. n. mathematics An algebraic structure which behaves just like a vector space over a field F, except that F is replaced by K, a commutative ring with unit.
8. n. computing A file containing a music sequence that can be played in a tracker (called also mod or music module).
9. n. hydraulics A contrivance for regulating the supply of water from an irrigation channel.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A model or measure.
2. n. (Arch.) The size of some one part, as the diameter of semi-diameter of the base of a shaft, taken as a unit of measure by which the proportions of the other parts of the composition are regulated. Generally, for columns, the semi-diameter is taken, and divided into a certain number of parts, called minutes (see Minute), though often the diameter is taken, and any dimension is said to be so many modules and minutes in height, breadth, or projection.
3. v. obsolete To model; also, to modulate.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a self-contained component (unit or item) that is used in combination with other components
2. n. computer circuit consisting of an assembly of electronic components (as of computer hardware)
3. n. detachable compartment of a spacecraft
4. n. one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind