(From "dimension") A keyword in most versions of the basic programming language that declares the size of an array. E.g.

        DIM A(100)

declares a one-dimensional array with 101 numeric elements (including A(0)).

visual basic uses the DIM (or "Dim") statement for any variable declaration, even scalars, e.g.

Dim DepartmentNumber As Integer

which declares a single (scalar) variable of type Integer.