liter

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noun li·ter \ˈlē-tər\

variants: or

litre

Definition of liter

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

See liter defined for English-language learners

See liter defined for kids

Recent Examples of liter from the Web

For day trips, a backpack in the 16 to 24 liter-range will cut it, says Trimble.

— cassie shortsleeve, CNT, "How to Pack for a Hiking Trip," 7 July 2017
Officers collected a two-liter bottle with a tube coming out of the top, antifreeze, drain cleaner, a hair dryer, a box of nasal decongestant and lithium batteries, among other narcotics and paraphernalia, according to court records.

— becky jacobs, chicagotribune.com, "NWI meth lab busts sparse amid heroin epidemic, police say," 6 July 2017
Ten 24-packs of cans, 10 two-liter bottles, 10 six-packs of smaller bottles.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Thanks, Cook County, for turning us into soda nut-cases," 29 June 2017
In Washington State, the price per liter, after, tax, from June 2013 to April 2014 was $24.39, 11 percent higher than before privatization, according to the Seattle Times.

— christopher harress, AL.com, "Religion keeps ABC liquor stores in business," 28 June 2017
Ethiopia’s annual fuel consumption was about 3.5 billion liters (925 million gallons) last year, according to the feasibility study.

— nizar manek, Bloomberg.com, "Protest-Hit Ethiopian Region Plans Oil Company to Quell Unrest," 20 June 2017
Meiser similarly recommends at least two liters (or 67 ounces).

— jenn fields, The Know, "Colorado fourteeners: seriously everything you need to know before you go," 16 June 2017
Mitchell says patients might initially need four to seven liters of IV fluids to compensate.

— sarah zhang, The Atlantic, "The Aftermath of a Deadly Mushroom Bloom in California," 13 June 2017
Between Saturday morning and early Sunday morning, the trio consumed 3 liters of vodka.

— michelle hunter, NOLA.com, "2 accused of killing friend with wrestling move: Westwego police," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'liter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of liter

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1797

See Words from the same year

Other Weights and Measures Terms

avoirdupois weight, calorie, denier, kip, pace, twain

LITER Defined for English Language Learners

liter

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noun

Definition of liter for English Language Learners

: a metric unit for measuring the volume of a liquid or gas that is equal to 1.057 quarts

LITER Defined for Kids

liter

play

noun li·ter \ˈlē-tər\

Definition of liter for Students

: a metric unit of liquid capacity equal to 1.057 quarts

Medical Dictionary

liter

noun li·ter

variants: or chiefly British

litre

\ˈlēt-ər\play

Medical Definition of liter

: 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