| 释义 |
statistics|stəˈtɪstɪks|
Pl. of statistic.
1. a. Construed as sing. In early use, that branch of political science dealing with the collection, classification, and discussion of facts (especially of a numerical kind) bearing on the condition of a state or community. In recent use, the department of study that has for its object the collection and arrangement of numerical facts or data, whether relating to human affairs or to natural phenomena.
1770W. Hooper tr. Bielfeld's Elem. Universal Educ. III. xiii. 269 The science, that is called statistics, teaches us what is the political arrangement of all the modern states of the known world. 1787Zimmermann Polit. Surv. Europe Pref. 2 This science, distinguished by the newly-coined name of Statistics, is become a favourite study in Germany. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVII. 731/2 Statistics, a word lately introduced to express a view or survey of any kingdom, county, or parish. 1798Sir J. Sinclair Statist. Acc. Scot. XX. App. p. xiii, In 1786, I found, that in Germany they were engaged in a species of political inquiry, to which they had given the name of Statistics; and though I apply a different idea to that word, for by Statistical is meant in Germany, an inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the political strength of a country, or questions respecting matters of state; whereas, the idea I annex to the term, is an inquiry into the state of a country, for the purpose of ascertaining the quantum of happiness enjoyed by its inhabitants, and the means of its future improvement; yet, as I thought that a new word might attract more public attention, I resolved on adopting it. 1838Lond. & Westm. Rev. XXIX. 70 Statistics..is merely a form of knowledge—a mode of arranging and stating facts which belong to various sciences. 1839Carlyle Chartism xi. 115 Statistics is a most important science. 1895Mayo-Smith Statist. & Sociol. 9 Statistics consists in the observation of phenomena which can be counted or expressed in figures.
b. With defining word. Chiefly in vital statistics, see vital a. 4 d.
1829F. B. Hawkins Elem. Med. Statistics 2 A combination of these scattered features forms Medical Statistics... We may perhaps define it, in a few words, to be the application of numbers to illustrate the natural history of man in health and disease. 1845Neison (title) Contributions to Vital Statistics. 1889A. Newsholme (title) The Elements of Vital Statistics.
2. a. Construed as pl. Numerical facts or data collected and classified.
1837H. Martineau Soc. Amer. II. 292 There is great virtue in figures, dull as they are to all but the few who love statistics for the sake of what they indicate. 1838Lond. & Westm. Rev. XXIX. 58 The valuelessness of all prior statistics of crime. 1844Kinglake Eothen Pref., From all useful statistics..the volume is thoroughly free. 1859Westm. Rev. Oct. 593 The statistics of suicide are striking. 1868G. Duff Pol. Surv. 6 To collect on the spot masses of statistics. 1881Hooper in Jrnl. Statist. Soc. XLIV. 44 We all know what we mean by ‘statistics of pig iron,’ ‘statistics of coffee,’ ‘population statistics,’ or ‘revenue statistics.’ We mean actual concrete figures relating to a particular set of phenomena.
b. = vital statistics (b) s.v. vital a. 4 d. Also transf. colloq.
1958Times 24 Feb. 11/3 It is a pretty thought to contemplate all those statistics hipping and swaying and shimmering. Ibid. 13 Nov. 9/4 To-day, except for the slightly high waist-lines and one or two modified trapezes, feminine statistics were where nature intended them to be. 1960Punch 3 Aug. 148/2 An enticing girl with yellow hair and sound statistics. 1978O. White Silent Reach vi. 61 Next time you get into position, try squeezing her statistics.
c. Comb. (in sing. form). Cf. statistic n. 1 b.
1855Thackeray Charac. Sk., Capt. Rook, The statistic⁓mongers and dealers in geography have calculated to a nicety how many quartern loaves..are consumed. 1902S. Coleridge Open Let. to Registrar-General 6 The impertinences of a mere statistic-collector.
3. Physics. The statistical description appropriate to the behaviour and properties of an ensemble of many atoms, molecules, etc., esp. as regards the distribution of energy among them; spec. = quantum statistics s.v. quantum 7 a.
[1873J. C. Maxwell in Nature 25 Sept. 440/1 The modern atomists have therefore adopted a method which is I believe new in the department of mathematical physics, though it has long been in use in the Section of Statistics.] 1900Phil. Mag. XLIX. 114 In the case of a gas, of which the statistics are assumed to be regular, the potential energy remains approximately constant. 1903Nature 12 Mar. 453/2 The new Lucasian professor will next term lecture on ‘The Theory of Gases and the Molecular Statistics of Energy.’ 1909Proc. R. Soc. A. LXXXIII. 86 The general thesis of which a development is here attempted is thus the molecular statistics of distributions of energy. 1927[see Fermi]. 1928[see Bose-Einstein]. 1950W. J. Moore Physical Chem. xii. 356 In deriving the Boltzmann statistics, we assumed that the individual particles were distinguishable and that any number of particles could be assigned to one energy level. 1979Sci. Amer. Feb. 89/1 Two fundamental categories of particles, the fermions and the bosons. These categories are distinguished by the intrinsic angular momentum, or spin, of the particles, and by their statistics, or behavior in groups. |