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Definition of meter
1a : systematically arranged and measured rhythm (see rhythm 1) in verse: (1) : rhythm that continuously repeats a single basic pattern iambic meter (2) : rhythm characterized by regular recurrence of a systematic arrangement of basic patterns in larger figures ballad meterb : a measure or unit of metrical verse —usually used in combination pentameter — compare foot 4c : a fixed metrical pattern : verse form
2 : the basic recurrent rhythmical pattern of note values, accents, and beats per measure in music
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Did You Know?
Meter is a metric measurement slightly longer than a yard; thus, a 100-meter dash might take you a second longer than a 100-yard dash. But the word has a different sense in music, where people aren't separated by whether they use the metric system. For a musician, the meter is the regular background rhythm, expressed by the "time signature" written at the beginning of a piece or section: 2/2, 2/4, 3/8, 4/4, 6/8, etc. Within a meter, you can create rhythms that range from the simple to the complex. So, for example, "America the Beautiful" is in 4/4 meter (or "4/4 time"), but so are most of the rhythmically complex songs written by Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach, or Stevie Wonder. In ordinary conversation, though, most people use "rhythm" to include meter and everything that's built on top of it. In poetry, meter has much the same meaning; however, poetic meters aren't named with numbers but instead with traditional Greek and Latin terms such as iambic and dactylic.
Origin and Etymology of meter
Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English mēter, from Latin metrum, from Greek metron measure, meter; Anglo-French metre, from Latin metrum — more at measure
Other Literature Terms
Definition of meter
: one that measures; especially : an official measurer of commodities
Origin and Etymology of meter
Middle English, from meten to mete
meter
Definition of meter
: the base unit of length in the International System of Units that is equal to the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1⁄299,792,458 second or to about 39.37 inches — see metric system table
Origin and Etymology of meter
French mètre, from Greek metron measure
meter
Definition of meter
1 : an instrument for measuring and sometimes recording the time or amount of something a parking meter a gas meter
2 : postage meter; also : a marking printed by a postage meter
Origin and Etymology of meter
-meter
meter
Definition of meter
transitive verb
1 : to measure by means of a meter
2 : to supply in a measured or regulated amount
3 : to print postal indicia on by means of a postage meter
First Known Use of meter
1878
-meter
Definition of -meter
: instrument or means for measuring barometer
Origin and Etymology of -meter
French -mètre, from Greek metron measure
METER Defined for English Language Learners
-meter
Definition of -meter for English Language Learners
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: device used to measure something
METER Defined for Kids
Definition of meter for Students
1 : a planned rhythm in poetry that is usually repeated
2 : the repeated pattern of musical beats in a measure
Definition of meter for Students
: a measure of length on which the metric system is based and which is equal to about 39.37 inches
Definition of meter for Students
: an instrument for measuring and sometimes recording the amount of something a gas meter
-meter
Definition of -meter for Students
: instrument for measuring thermometer
Medical Dictionary
meter
Medical Definition of meter
: the base unit of length in the International System of Units that is equal to the distance traveled in a vacuum by light in 1/299,792,458 second or to about 39.37 inches
meter
Medical Definition of meter
: an instrument for measuring and sometimes recording the time or amount of something
Learn More about meter
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See words that rhyme with meter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for meter Spanish Central: Translation of meter Nglish: Translation of meter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of meter for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about meter
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