metre
|me-tre|
🇺🇸
/ˈmiːtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈmiːtə/
measure / rhythmic pattern
Etymology
'metre' originates from French, specifically the word 'mètre', ultimately from Greek 'metron', where 'metron' meant 'measure'.
'metre' changed from Greek 'metron' to Latin 'metrum', then to Old French 'metre' and eventually became the modern English word 'metre' via Middle English.
Initially, it meant 'measure', but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'unit of length', 'measuring device', and 'metrical pattern in poetry'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a unit of length in the metric system equal to 100 centimetres.
A metre is 100 centimetres long.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a device for measuring, recording, or regulating quantities (e.g. electricity metre, parking metre).
He checked the gas metre.
Synonyms
Noun 3
the rhythmic structure of a line of poetry, based on patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.
The metre of the poem is regular.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to measure the length or amount of something using a metre (British usage).
They will metre the length of the cable.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 08:44