Difference between revisions of "Definition: Meter" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | + | ==Alternative forms== | |
| − | + | * '''metre''' (British English for noun senses 2 and 3, rare for other senses) | |
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| − | ==== | + | ==Etymology== |
| − | + | Senses 1.1, 2, and 3 were borrowed from [[French]] ''mètre'' and [[Latin]] ''metrum''; from [[Ancient Greek]] ''μέτρον'' (''métron'', “measure, rule, length, size, poetic metre”). | |
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| + | Sense 1.2 is a noun derived from ''mete'', from [[Old English]] ''metan'' (“to measure, mark off”), possibly influencing the other meanings. | ||
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| + | ==Noun== | ||
| + | '''meter''' (plural '''meters''') | ||
| + | # A device that measures things. | ||
| + | ## A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment. | ||
| + | ##: gas '''meter''' | ||
| + | ##(dated) One who [[metes]] or [[measures]]. | ||
| + | ##: a laboring coal-meter | ||
| + | # (American spelling) The base unit of [[length]] in the [[International System of Units]] (SI), conceived as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the [[North Pole]] to the [[Equator]], and now defined as the distance light will travel in a [[vacuum]] in 1/299,792,458 seconds. | ||
| + | # (American spelling) The overall [[rhythm]] of a [[song]] or [[poem]]; particularly, the number of [[Beat (music)|beat]]s in a measure or [[syllable]]s in a line. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Related terms=== | ||
* [[altimeter]] | * [[altimeter]] | ||
* [[centimeter]] | * [[centimeter]] | ||
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* [[metric]] | * [[metric]] | ||
* [[metrical]] | * [[metrical]] | ||
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* [[millimeter]] | * [[millimeter]] | ||
* [[odometer]] | * [[odometer]] | ||
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* [[tachymeter]] | * [[tachymeter]] | ||
* [[tetrameter]] | * [[tetrameter]] | ||
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| + | ==Verb== | ||
| + | '''meter''' (third-person singular simple present '''meters''', present participle '''metering''', simple past and past participle '''metered''') | ||
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| + | # To [[measure]] with a '''metering''' device. | ||
| + | # To imprint a [[postage]] mark with a '''postage meter'''. | ||
| + | # To regulate the flow of or to deliver in regulated amounts (usually of [[fluid]]s but sometimes of other things such as anticipation or breath). | ||
{{Wictionary_credits|meter|5496952}} | {{Wictionary_credits|meter|5496952}} | ||
Latest revision as of 15:28, 28 July 2023
Alternative forms
- metre (British English for noun senses 2 and 3, rare for other senses)
Etymology
Senses 1.1, 2, and 3 were borrowed from French mètre and Latin metrum; from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, “measure, rule, length, size, poetic metre”).
Sense 1.2 is a noun derived from mete, from Old English metan (“to measure, mark off”), possibly influencing the other meanings.
Noun
meter (plural meters)
- A device that measures things.
- A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment.
- gas meter
- (dated) One who metes or measures.
- a laboring coal-meter
- A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment.
- (American spelling) The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), conceived as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator, and now defined as the distance light will travel in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds.
- (American spelling) The overall rhythm of a song or poem; particularly, the number of beats in a measure or syllables in a line.
Related terms
- altimeter
- centimeter
- feed the meter
- kilometer
- metric
- metrical
- millimeter
- odometer
- pedometer
- pentameter
- spectropolarimeter
- tachymeter
- tetrameter
Verb
meter (third-person singular simple present meters, present participle metering, simple past and past participle metered)
- To measure with a metering device.
- To imprint a postage mark with a postage meter.
- To regulate the flow of or to deliver in regulated amounts (usually of fluids but sometimes of other things such as anticipation or breath).
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here:
