meter
Pluralmeters
UK spellingmetre · for the unit and for rhythm in verse
Pluralmeters
Formsmeters, metering, metered
- 1The main metric unit for measuring length, a little more than 39 inches.
Please stand one meter back from the yellow line.
She bought three meters of blue cloth for the curtains.
UsageBritish English writes metre. The short form is m: 5 m.
- 2A tool that measures something, such as how much water, gas, or power you use.
Like a ruler, but it measures things like power or water instead of length.
The meter shows how much electricity we used this month.
He checked the meter to read the water usage.
UsageEven in British English the device is a meter; the length is a metre.
- 3A street machine where you pay, usually to park your car for a set time.
Like a piggy bank for the city: you put money in to use a parking space.
We fed coins into the meter before walking to the shop.
The meter ran out, so we got a parking ticket.
- 4
- 5
Less common meanings
- 6
- 7To stamp mail with a postage mark using a machine instead of a stamp.
Like using an ink stamp at the office instead of sticking on a postage stamp.
The office will meter all the letters before noon.
We meter the packages instead of buying stamps for each one.
Similarfrank
- 8
- 9A poem, or a piece of writing in verse.
Note
- 10A strong rope along the top or bottom edge of a net that helps hold the net together.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From an English word meaning "one who measures." The meaning later shifted to a device that measures.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Meter derives from an English word meaning a person who measures. en.wiktionary.org
- The meaning developed from a person who measures to a measuring device. en.wiktionary.org
From French mètre, which came from Latin metrum, from Greek métron.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- English meter comes from French mètre. en.wiktionary.org
- French mètre comes from Latin metrum. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin metrum comes from Greek métron. en.wiktionary.org
The Greek word métron became metrum in Latin. From Latin it went into Old English as meter and into Old French as metre, and both led to the English word.