Difference between revisions of "Definition: Meter" - New World Encyclopedia

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# (''always'' '''meter''') A device that measures things.
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==Alternative forms==
# A [[parking meter]].
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* '''metre''' (British English for noun senses 2 and 3, rare for other senses)
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==Etymology==
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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==
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'''meter''' (plural '''meters''')  
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# A device that measures things.
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#:A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment.  
 
# {{Template:Definition:mostly|US}} (elsewhere [[metre]]) The [[base unit]] of [[length]] in the [[International System of Units]] ([[SI]]), equal to the distance light will travel in a [[vacuum]] in 1/299792458 [[second]].
 
# {{Template:Definition:mostly|US}} (elsewhere [[metre]]) The [[base unit]] of [[length]] in the [[International System of Units]] ([[SI]]), equal to the distance light will travel in a [[vacuum]] in 1/299792458 [[second]].
 
# {{Template:Definition:music}} an [[increment]] of music; the overall [[rhythm]]; particularly, the number of [[beat]]s in a [[measure]].
 
# {{Template:Definition:music}} an [[increment]] of music; the overall [[rhythm]]; particularly, the number of [[beat]]s in a [[measure]].

Revision as of 14:54, 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)

  1. A device that measures things.
    A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment.
  2. (mostly Template:Context 1) (elsewhere metre) The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the distance light will travel in a vacuum in 1/299792458 second.
  3. (music) an increment of music; the overall rhythm; particularly, the number of beats in a measure.
  4. (prosody) The rhythm pattern in a poem.

Related terms

  • altimeter
  • centimeter
  • feed the meter
  • kilometer
  • metric
  • metrical
  • millimeter
  • odometer
  • pedometer
  • pentameter
  • spectropolarimeter
  • tachymeter
  • tetrameter

Credits

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