benchmark \benchmark\, bench mark \bench mark\ (Surveying)
   1. Any permanent mark to which other levels may be referred.
      such as:
      (a) A horizontal mark at the water's edge with reference
          to which the height of tides and floods may be
          measured.
      (b) a surveyer's mark on a permanent object of
          predetermined position and elevation used as a
          reference point.
          [Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5]

   2. something serving as a standard by which related items may
      be judged; as, his painting sets the benchmark of quality.
      [PJC + WordNet 1.5]

   3. a test or series of tests designed to compare the
      qualities or performance of different devices of the same
      type. Certain sets of computer programs are much used as
      benchmarks for comparing the performance of different
      computers, especially by comparing the time it takes to
      complete a test.
      [PJC]