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
The ancient Amate tree leaned over a canyon like a broken metronome.
—
Philip Holsinger, Time, 10 June 2025
To go about this, some runners will run to the beat of a metronome or a playlist designed around a target step rate.
—Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
The loss and the heartbreak and the things left unsaid between her and Joel is the motivating metronome behind all the narrative beats.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 12 May 2025
Sinner is a brilliant technician, a precise metronome in action, while Alcaraz can charge up his firepower and then go out of bounds.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for metronome
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Philip Holsinger, Time, 10 June 2025
To go about this, some runners will run to the beat of a metronome or a playlist designed around a target step rate.
—Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
The loss and the heartbreak and the things left unsaid between her and Joel is the motivating metronome behind all the narrative beats.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 12 May 2025
Sinner is a brilliant technician, a precise metronome in action, while Alcaraz can charge up his firepower and then go out of bounds.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 16 May 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 20 Aug. 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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