- standard, criterion, measure, touchstone - a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated; "they set the measure for all subsequent work"
--1 is a kind of reference point, point of reference, reference
--1 has particulars:benchmark; grade point average, GPA; yardstick; medium of exchange, monetary system; scale, scale of measurement, graduated table, ordered series; gauge, standard of measurement; baseline; norm - criterion, standard - the ideal in terms of which something can be judged; "they live by the standards of their community"
--2 is a kind of ideal
--2 has particulars: control condition, control; design criteria