meter
1the fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equivalent to 39.37 U.S. inches, originally intended to be, and being very nearly, equal to one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the pole measured on a meridian: defined from 1889 to 1960 as the distance between two lines on a platinum-iridium bar (the “International Prototype Meter”) preserved at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris; from 1960 to 1983 defined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of the orange-red radiation of krypton 86 under specified conditions; and now defined as 1/299,792,458 of the distance light travels in a vacuum in one second. Abbreviation: m
Origin of meter
1- Also especially British, me·tre .
Other definitions for meter (2 of 4)
Music.
the rhythmic element as measured by division into parts of equal time value.
the unit of measurement, in terms of number of beats, adopted for a given piece of music.: Compare measure (def. 14).
Prosody.
poetic measure; arrangement of words in regularly measured, patterned, or rhythmic lines or verses.
a particular form of such arrangement, depending on either the kind or the number of feet constituting the verse or both rhythmic kind and number of feet (usually used in combination): pentameter; dactylic meter; iambic trimeter.
Origin of meter
2- Also especially British, me·tre .
Other definitions for meter (3 of 4)
an instrument for measuring, especially one that automatically measures and records the quantity of something, as of gas, water, miles, or time, when it is activated.
to measure by means of a meter.
to process (mail) by means of a postage meter.
Origin of meter
3- Also especially British, me·tre .
Other words from meter
- un·me·tered, adjective
Other definitions for -meter (4 of 4)
a combining form meaning “measure,” used in the names of instruments measuring quantity, extent, degree, etc.: altimeter; barometer.
Origin of -meter
4- Compare -metry.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use meter in a sentence
On average, an estimated 365 microplastic particles per square meter per day rained down on that site during the study period, about as much as falls from the sky in some cities.
Plastics are showing up in the world’s most remote places, including Mount Everest | Carolyn Wilke | November 20, 2020 | Science NewsAmong the 60-plus species of mammals that glide, including several gliders and flying squirrels, Sunda colugos have been recorded gliding as far as 145 meters.
On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops | Yao-Hua Law | November 20, 2020 | Science NewsThe first time they met, their conversation was so engaging that he had to leave twice to feed the parking meter.
This AI whiz could be the next Elon Musk or Steve Jobs, but first she has to navigate being 18 | Taylor Telford | November 5, 2020 | Washington PostSuch cores can be hundreds of meters long, taken up in sections.
Preserving a Sense of Wonder in DNA - Issue 92: Frontiers | Virat Markandeya | October 28, 2020 | NautilusIf venturing outside, rain, and water sources are no match for its IPX7 waterproof design—it can even survive full submersion in up to a meter of water.
Bluetooth speakers that make great gifts | PopSci Commerce Team | October 27, 2020 | Popular-Science
All the services at the present time are metered, and the meter system will be used throughout.
ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico | George Robert Graham ConwayNowadays, our drugs are carefully measured, mixed, and metered for each individual.
The Status Civilization | Robert SheckleyIt does not cost us anything, it isn't metered out to us, so we have a saying, "as free as air."
The Children's Six Minutes | Bruce S. WrightAll water is metered and sells for 40 cents per thousand cub.
British Dictionary definitions for meter (1 of 4)
/ (ˈmiːtə) /
the US spelling of metre 1
British Dictionary definitions for meter (2 of 4)
/ (ˈmiːtə) /
the US spelling of metre 2
British Dictionary definitions for meter (3 of 4)
/ (ˈmiːtə) /
any device that measures and records the quantity of a substance, such as gas, that has passed through it during a specified period
any device that measures and sometimes records an electrical or magnetic quantity, such as current, voltage, etc
See parking meter
to measure (a rate of flow) with a meter
to print with stamps by means of a postage meter
Origin of meter
3British Dictionary definitions for -meter (4 of 4)
indicating an instrument for measuring: barometer
prosody indicating a verse having a specified number of feet: pentameter
Origin of -meter
4Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for meter
[ mē′tər ]
The basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to 39.37 inches. See Table at measurement.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for meter (1 of 2)
The highly organized rhythm characteristic of verse; the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line. (See iambic pentameter.)
The basic unit of length in the metric system; it was originally planned so that the circumference of the Earth would be measured at about forty million meters. A meter is 39.37 inches. Today, the meter is defined to be the distance light travels in 1 / 299,792,458 seconds.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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