quota

/ˈkwoʊdə/

/ˈkwʌʊtə/

Other forms: quotas

A quota is a specific number of things. If a quota is placed on the total number of apples each visitor can pick at an orchard, it means that once you've picked a certain number of apples, you have to stop.

Usually a quota places an upper limit on the total number or amount of some item. There are quotas placed on all kinds of things, like immigrants entering a country, goods exported, or students admitted to a particular school. Quota comes from the Latin phrase quota pars, or "how large a part".

Definitions of quota

1. noun

   a prescribed number
   “all the salesmen met their quota for the month”

   type of:

   number

   a concept of quantity involving zero and units
2. noun

   a proportional share assigned to each participant
   type of:

   allocation, allotment

   a share set aside for a specific purpose
3. noun

   a limitation on imports
   “the quota for Japanese imports was negotiated”

   type of:

   import barrier, trade barrier

   any regulation or policy that restricts international trade