What is the term for the limits or restrictions placed on geometry that define a model's overall shape and size?

The correct term for the limits or restrictions placed on geometry that define a model's overall shape and size is "constraints." In the context of computer-aided design (CAD) and modeling software like Autodesk Inventor, constraints are used to control the relationships between different geometry elements. For instance, a constraint can ensure that two lines remain parallel, or that a circle stays tangent to a line. This ability to impose restrictions is essential for ensuring that a model behaves predictively when making modifications.

Dimensions, while crucial in giving specific measurements to features of the model, primarily provide numerical values rather than operational limitations on the geometry's relationship and behavior. The notion of equal is a type of constraint that may apply in certain situations where elements are required to be the same size, but it doesn't encompass the broad range of relationships that constraints can define. The term "edit" does not refer specifically to restrictions or limits on geometry, but rather to the action of modifying the design. Thus, constraints are indeed the overarching terms that encompass these functionalities in CAD modeling.