metre

¹

/ ˈmiːtə /

noun

1. a metric unit of length equal to approximately 1.094 yards
2. the basic SI unit of length; the length of the path travelled by light in free space during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second. In 1983 this definition replaced the previous one based on krypton-86, which in turn had replaced the definition based on the platinum-iridium metre bar kept in Paris

metre

²

/ ˈmiːtə /

noun

1. prosody the rhythmic arrangement of syllables in verse, usually according to the number and kind of feet in a line
2. music another word (esp US) for time

Word History and Origins

Origin of metre¹

C18: from French; see metre ²

Origin of metre²

C14: from Latin metrum, from Greek metron measure

Example Sentences

All insert yis (or yes) before parde; which spoils both sense and metre.

From Project Gutenberg

All insert white after Was, which spoils metre and story (see l. 948).

From Project Gutenberg

I supply look, for the sake of sense and metre; read—But good swet' hert-, look that ye.

From Project Gutenberg

Unfortunately, all the scribes have repeated it, to the ruin of the metre; for the line then contains two syllables too many.

From Project Gutenberg

Koch would omit hit, for the sake of the metre; but it makes no difference at all, the e in thoghte being elided.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cadence
• flow
• movement
• pattern
• pulse
• swing
• tempo