Look up benchmark in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The term benchmark originates from the chiseled horizontal marks that surveyors made, into which an angle-iron could be placed to bracket ("bench") a leveling rod, thus ensuring that the levelling rod can be repositioned in exactly the same place in the future.

Benchmark may refer to:

[edit] Geology

• Benchmark (surveying), a point of reference for a measurement
• Benchmark (crude oil), a reference for and discussion of cost and/or pricing of petroleum, such as Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate in terms of benchmarks based on classification differences.
• Benchmarking (geolocating), a sport similar to geocaching in which participants individually go out and find benchmarks
• Benchmarks (geology), signposts in the geologic record known as Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Points (GSSP) and also Global Standard Stratigraphic Ages (GSSA).

[edit] Other uses

• Benchmark (computing), the result of running a computer program, or a set of programs, in order to assess the relative performance of an object by running a number of standard tests and trials against it
• Benchmarking, the process used in management in which organizations evaluate various aspects of their processes in relation to the best practice, usually within their own sector
• Benchmark Capital, a venture capital firm behind various startups, such as (and including) eBay.

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