Metre

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmiːtÉ™(r)/

Alternative forms

• meter

From French mètre, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (metron, "measure", "rule", "length", "size", "poetic metre")

Full definition of metre

Noun

1. The basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Système International d'Unités). It is equal to (approximately 39.37) imperial inches.
• 1797, The Monthly magazine and British register, No. 3The measures of length above the metre are ten times ... greater than the metre.
• 1873, The Young Englishwoman, AprilA dress length of 8 metres of the best quality costs 58 francs.
• 1928, The Observer, April 15The 12-metre yachts ... can be sailed efficiently with four paid hands.

Usage notes

This, rather than meter, is the spelling adopted by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures for use in its publications, and is the official spelling worldwide except in US, where the U.S. chose to use meter in accordance with the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual.

Synonyms

• m

Derived terms

• cubic metre
• metrology
• metric
• metre per second
• square metre

Verb

1. (British, rare) Alternative spelling of meter

Usage notes

The standard spelling of the verb meaning to measure is meter throughout the English-speaking world. The use of the spelling metre for this sense (outside music and poetry) is possibly mis-spelling.

From Old English, from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek See #Etymology 1

Noun

1. The rhythm or measure in verse and musical composition.

Verb

1. (poetry, music) To put into metrical form.

Anagrams

• meter
• remet
• retem