Illustration of metronome
metronome
noun
met·ro·nome
ˈme-trə-ˌnōm 
: a device designed to mark exact time by a regularly repeated tick
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The patent for the metronome was entered in 1816: "John Malzl [sic], of Poland-street, Middlesex, Machinist; for an instrument . . . which he denominates a Metronome, or musical time-keeper." The courts, however, later proved that the aforementioned Johann Maelzel copied a pendulum design of Dietrich Winkel, making Winkel the actual inventor. Nonetheless, Maelzel was the more successful marketer of the metronome and even has a notation named after him. The "M.M." in notations like "M.M. = 60" stands for "Maelzel's metronome" and indicates a tempo of 60 beats per minute or a beat per tick of the metronome as it ticks 60 times, in the case of our example. The name of the invention itself is based on the Greek words metron, meaning "measure," and nomos, meaning "law."
Examples of metronome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists treat the resonances as useful geophysical probes, not a cosmic metronome for human consciousness.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
The third-year kicker is as reliable as a metronome for Regis, connecting on 74 of 77 extra points and 20 of 26 field goals with a long of 52 yards over the past two seasons.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
The sooner leaders change their organizational metronome, through hybridization of business, the faster firms will shift from isolated traditional automation to compounding organizational advantage.
—John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ancient Amate tree leaned over a canyon like a broken metronome.
—Philip Holsinger, Time, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for metronome
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Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
The third-year kicker is as reliable as a metronome for Regis, connecting on 74 of 77 extra points and 20 of 26 field goals with a long of 52 yards over the past two seasons.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
The sooner leaders change their organizational metronome, through hybridization of business, the faster firms will shift from isolated traditional automation to compounding organizational advantage.
—John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The ancient Amate tree leaned over a canyon like a broken metronome.
—Philip Holsinger, Time, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for metronome
Cite this Entry
“Metronome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metronome. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metronome
noun
met·ro·nome
ˈme-trə-ˌnōm
: an instrument that ticks regularly to help a music student play in exact time
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