liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər 

variants or litre

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Whisky shipped in containers larger than four liters is exempt, and Crown Royal, the best-selling Canadian whisky in America, already arrives in bulk and is bottled in the United States. — Lars Hanson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026

That pump draws water from a nearby source such as a canal or lake, and delivers it onto the farmer's fields at a rate of up to 60,000 liters (15,850 US gal) per hour. — New Atlas, 10 Nov. 2026

The layer that fell after 28 days without snow held about 69 particles per liter of meltwater. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

The Meteorite itself was so named because it was derived from Rolls’ 27-liter Meteor tank V12, which in turn was born out of the Merlin aircraft engine. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liter

• beater
• cheater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater
• skeeter

Kids Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or litre

ˈlēt-ər

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or chiefly British litre

ˈlēt-ər 

: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury