(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. (1999-03-26)