meter

me·ter ¹  (mtr)

n.

1.

a. The measured arrangement of words in poetry, as by accentual rhythm, syllabic quantity, or the number of syllables in a line.

b. A particular arrangement of words in poetry, such as iambic pentameter, determined by the kind and number of metrical units in a line.

c. The rhythmic pattern of a stanza, determined by the kind and number of lines.

2. Music

a. Division into measures or bars.

b. A specific rhythm determined by the number of beats and the time value assigned to each note in a measure.

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[Middle English, from Old English meter and from Old French metre, both from Latin metrum, from Greek metron, measure, poetic meter; see m-² in Indo-European roots.]

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me·ter ²  (mtr)

n. Abbr. m

The international standard unit of length, approximately equivalent to 39.37 inches. It was redefined in 1983 as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. See Table at measurement.

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[French mètre, from Greek metron, measure; see m-² in Indo-European roots.]

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meter ¹

Noun

1. any device that measures and records the quantity or number of units of something that was used during a specified period or is being used at that moment: a gas meter

2. short for parking meter

3. short for taximeter

Verb

to measure the amount of something used or a rate of flow with a meter [Old English metan to measure]

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meter ²

Noun

US same as metre¹ or metre²

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meter  (mtr)

The basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to 39.37 inches. See Table at measurement.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	meter - the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards) m, metre metric linear unit - a linear unit of distance in metric terms decimeter, decimetre, dm - a metric unit of length equal to one tenth of a meter decameter, decametre, dekameter, dekametre, dkm, dam - a metric unit of length equal to ten meters
	2.	meter - any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity ammeter - a meter that measures the flow of electrical current in amperes electric meter, power meter - a meter for measuring the amount of electric power used electrometer - meter to measure electrostatic voltage differences; draws no current from the source fluxmeter - meter that measures magnetic flux by the current it generates in a coil galvanometer - meter for detecting or comparing or measuring small electric currents gas meter, gasometer - a meter for measuring the amount of gas flowing through a particular pipe gaussmeter, magnetometer - a meter to compare strengths of magnetic fields measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system - instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something hodometer, mileometer, milometer, odometer - a meter that shows mileage traversed ohmmeter - a meter for measuring electrical resistance in ohms postage meter - meter for bulk mailings that imprints correct prepaid postage on pieces of mail and records the total charge radiometer - meter to detect and measure radiant energy (electromagnetic or acoustic) reflectometer - a meter that measures the reflectance of a surface speed indicator, speedometer - a meter fixed to a vehicle that measures and displays its speed taximeter - a meter in a taxi that registers the fare (based on the length of the ride) voltmeter - meter that measures the potential difference between two points volumeter - a meter to measure the volume of gases, liquids, or solids (either directly or by displacement) water meter - meter for measuring the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet
	3.	meter - (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse cadence, metre, measure, beat metrics, prosody - the study of poetic meter and the art of versification poetic rhythm, rhythmic pattern, prosody - (prosody) a system of versification catalexis - the absence of a syllable in the last foot of a line or verse scansion - analysis of verse into metrical patterns common meter, common measure - the usual (iambic) meter of a ballad metrical foot, metrical unit, foot - (prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
	4.	meter - rhythm as given by division into parts of equal duration metre, time rhythmicity - the rhythmic property imparted by the accents and relative durations of notes in a piece of music
Verb	1.	meter - measure with a meter; "meter the flow of water" measure, quantify - express as a number or measure or quantity; "Can you quantify your results?"
	2.	meter - stamp with a meter indicating the postage; "meter the mail" stamp - affix a stamp to; "Are the letters properly stamped?"

Translations

meter [ˈmiːtəʳ] n (instrument) → contador m;

(US) (unit) = metre

vt (US) (POST) → franquear;

parking meter → parquímetro

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meter [ˈmiːtəʳ] n (= instrument) → compteur m;

(also: parking meter) → parc(o)mètre m;

(US) (= unit) = metre

vt (US) (Post) → affranchir à la machine

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meter [ˈmiːtəʳ] n → Zähler m;

(also: water meter) → Wasseruhr f;

(also: parking meter) → Parkuhr f;

(US) (unit) = metre

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meter [ˈmiːtəʳ] n (instrument) → contatore m (= parking meter); parchimetro;

(US) = metre