efficiency

(ĭ-fĭsh'ən-sē)
n., pl., -cies.

1. 1. The quality or property of being efficient.
   2. The degree to which this quality is exercised: The program was implemented with great efficiency and speed.
2. 1. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.
   2. The ratio of the energy delivered by a machine to the energy supplied for its operation.
3. An efficiency apartment.

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For more information on efficiency, visit Britannica.com.

The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the output to the input of power (energy or work per unit time). As is common in engineering, this concept is defined precisely and made measurable. Thus, a gear transmission is 97% efficient when the useful energy output is 97% of the input, the other 3% being lost as heat due to friction. A boiler is 75% efficient when its product (steam) contains 75% of the heat theoretically contained in the fuel consumed. All automobile engines have low efficiency (below 30%) because of the total energy content of fuel converted to heat; only a portion provides motive power, while a substantial amount is lost in radiator and car exhaust.

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Cost of inputs for each unit of output produced. For example, the assembly department spent 2,320 hours of direct labor in order to produce 2,000 actual units of output, while the budget allows only 2,000 direct labor-hours for that level of output. Then the department was clearly inefficient (or wasteful) in the use of labor since it spent 320 hours more than allowed.
See also analysis of variances.

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noun

1. The quality of being efficient: productivity. See industrious/lazy, thrive/fail/exist.
2. The power or capacity to produce a desired result: effect, effectiveness, effectuality, effectualness, efficaciousness, efficacy, influence, potency. See affect/ineffectiveness.

n

Definition: adeptness, effectiveness
Antonyms: helplessness, impotence, inability, incompetence, ineffectiveness, inefficiency, weakness

The ratio of the work done to the effort used; usually the relation of output to input. Although output and input are usually measured in financial terms, analyses of agricultural efficiency can be made using input and output in terms of energy, and this analysis makes commercial agriculture look far less efficient than in conventional, financial analyses. The concept of spatial efficiency is central to locational theory, and relates to the organization of space in order to minimize costs but ignores considerations of social justice.

In human movements, the relationship between the amount of work done and the energy expended during the work. See mechanical efficiency.

A level of performance that describes a process that uses the lowest amount of inputs to create the greatest amount of outputs. Efficiency relates to the use of all inputs in producing any given output, including personal time and energy.

Investopedia Says:
Efficiency is an important attribute because all inputs are scarce. Time, money and raw materials are limited, so it makes sense to try to conserve them while maintaining an acceptable level of output or a general production level.

Being efficient simply means reducing the amount of wasted inputs.

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Being efficient on the job is the key to finding balance and avoiding burnout as a broker or advisor. Financial Efficiency: The Analyst's Guide To Time Management
We look at a retailer's inventory turnaround times, its receivables as well as its collection period. Measuring Company Efficiency
Deciding whether it's possible to attain above average returns requires an understanding of this concept. Working Through The Efficient Market Hypothesis
The efficient market hypothesis (EMH) suggests that stock prices fully reflect all available information in the market. Is this possible? What Is Market Efficiency?
Diversification? Optimal portfolio theory? Read this tutorial and these and other financial concepts will be made clear. Financial Concepts

The amount of power delivered to the load of an amplifier as a percentage of the power required from the power supply.

IN BRIEF: The quality or degree to which someone or something possesses adequate skill or knowledge for the performance of a duty.

His computer technician displayed a high degree of efficiency by swiftly identifying and correcting the problem.

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Quotes:

"Efficiency is intelligent laziness." - David Dunham

"Efficiency is doing better what is already being done." - Peter F. Drucker

The ratio of output to input or the ratio of work done to the effort put in. Unless specifically stated otherwise, it means efficiency with respect to power. The efficiency of any device refers to a physical quantity that may be stored, transferred, or transformed by the device.

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the ratio of the useful output of a machine, device, system, etc. to the input, whether in terms of thermal, mechanical, or radiation energy, or of biological or chemical conversions.

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1. in clinical practice equals the effect achieved in relation to the expenditure and effort expended.
2. in physiological terms, efficiency of any organ or tissue is equal to the ratio of useful energy produced to total energy expended.

n

The operation of a dental practice in such a way that both business and professional services are performed in a minimal amount of time without sacrificing quality of work, sympathetic attitude, and kindliness.

For a list of words related to efficiency, see:

• Principles of Mechanics, Waves, and Measurement - efficiency: ratio of machine’s useful power output to power input

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See words rhyming with "efficiency."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Efficiency.

Common misspelling(s) of efficiency

• effeciency
• efficency

Dansk (Danish)
n. - effektivitet, ydeevne, duelighed, virkningsgrad

idioms:

• efficiency bar    lønmaksimum uden kvalifikationstillæg

Nederlands (Dutch)
efficiëntie, doeltreffendheid, bekwaamheid, productiviteit

Français (French)
n. - capacité, compétence, efficacité (une méthode), bon fonctionnement (d'un système), bon rendement (d'une machine)

idioms:

• efficiency bar    petit bar réfrigéré (dans chambre d'hôtel)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Fähigkeit, Tüchtigkeit, Effizienz

idioms:

• efficiency bar    Gehaltsstufe, von der aufwärts ein Fähigkeitsnachweis gefordert wird

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αποτελεσματικότητα, δραστικότητα, δραστηριότητα, αποδοτικότητα, απόδοση (έργου κ.λπ.), (μηχαν.) βαθμός απόδοσης (λόγος αποδιδόμενου έργου προς την αναλωθείσα ενέργεια)

idioms:

• efficiency bar    βαθμίδα ιεραρχίας που απαιτεί τεκμηρίωση της απόδοσης

Italiano (Italian)
efficienza

idioms:

• efficiency bar    promozione condizionata dall'efficienza

Português (Portuguese)
n. - eficiência (f)

idioms:

• efficiency bar    pequeno bar em hotel

Русский (Russian)
деловитость, производительность, продуктивность

idioms:

• efficiency bar    преграда дальнейшему служебному повышению

Español (Spanish)
n. - eficiencia, rendimiento, eficacia

idioms:

• efficiency bar    umbral de competencia, nivel mínimo de competencia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - effektivitet, kompetens, prestationsförmåga

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
效率, 有效, 效能

idioms:

• efficiency bar    效率工资

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 效率, 有效, 效能

idioms:

• efficiency bar    效率工資

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 능력, 능률

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 能率, 効率, 能力

idioms:

• efficiency bar    能率バー

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) كفايه, فعاليه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮יעילות, זריזות, היחס בין האנרגיה שהושקעה לעבודה שבוצעה‬

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