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water meter

American  

noun

  1. a device for measuring and registering the quantity of water that passes through a pipe or other outlet.


water meter British  

noun

  1. a device for measuring the quantity or rate of water flowing through a pipe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of water meter

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Last week, the city released a statement saying it had locked the warehouse’s water meter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

And a 1971 water meter moratorium — put into place because Bolinas has a limited water supply — has effectively prohibited new development for the last 54 years.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2025

"It's also worth checking if you're eligible for any council tax reductions or exemptions and could save money by installing a water meter."

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025

A diligent plumber will also calculate the pressure loss from the height of the bathroom above the water meter, the pressure loss through the water meter, a backflow preventer and any other pressure regulators.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2024

At 5:19, operators went back to unit 1 to try to get another reading off the water meter.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland