Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Metre

{

Me′ter

,

Me′tre

}
,
Noun.
[OE.
metre
, F.
mètre
, L.
metrum
, fr. Gr. [GREEK]; akin to Skr.
mā
to measure. See
Mete
to measure.]
1.
Rhythmical arrangement of syllables or words into verses, stanzas, strophes, etc.; poetical measure, depending on number, quantity, and accent of syllables; rhythm; measure; verse; also, any specific rhythmical arrangements;
as, the Horatian
meters
; a dactylic
meter
.
The only strict antithesis to prose is
meter
.
Wordsworth.
2.
A poem.
[Obs.]
Robynson (More’s Utopia).
3.
A measure of length, equal to 39.37 English inches, the standard of linear measure in the metric system of weights and measures. It was intended to be, and is very nearly, the ten millionth part of the distance from the equator to the north pole, as ascertained by actual measurement of an arc of a meridian. See
Metric system
, under
Metric
.
Common meter
(Hymnol.)
,
four iambic verses, or lines, making a stanza, the first and third having each four feet, and the second and fourth each three feet; – usually indicated by the initials C. M.
Long meter
(Hymnol.)
,
iambic verses or lines of four feet each, four verses usually making a stanza; – commonly indicated by the initials L. M.
Short meter
(Hymnol.)
,
iambic verses or lines, the first, second, and fourth having each three feet, and the third four feet. The stanza usually consists of four lines, but is sometimes doubled. Short meter is indicated by the initials S. M.

Me′tre

(mē′tẽr)
,
Noun.
See
Meter
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Metre

METRE.

[See Meter.]

Definition 2024


metre

metre

See also: métré, metré, mètre, -metre, and -mètre

English

Alternative forms

Noun

metre (plural metres)

  1. The basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Système International d'Unités). It is equal to 39+47127 (approximately 39.37) imperial inches.
    • 1797, The Monthly magazine and British register, No. 3
      The measures of length above the metre are ten times ... greater than the metre.
    • 1873, The Young Englishwoman, April
      A dress length of 8 metres of the best quality costs 58 francs.
    • 1928, The Observer, April 15
      The 12-metre yachts ... can be sailed efficiently with four paid hands.
Usage notes
Synonyms
Derived terms
See also
  • Appendix on SI Units
External links
Translations

Verb

metre (third-person singular simple present metres, present participle metring, simple past and past participle metred)

  1. (Britain, rare) Alternative spelling of meter
Usage notes

The standard spelling of the verb meaning to measure is meter throughout the English-speaking world. The use of the spelling metre for this sense (outside music and poetry) is possibly mis-spelling.

Etymology 2

From Old English, from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek See #Etymology 1

Noun

metre (plural metres) (Britain, Canada)

  1. The rhythm or measure in verse and musical composition.

Verb

metre (third-person singular simple present metres, present participle metring, simple past and past participle metred)

  1. (poetry, music) To put into metrical form.
See also

Anagrams


Catalan

Etymology 1

From French mètre.

Noun

metre m (plural metres)

  1. metre, meter (unit of measure, 100 cm)

Etymology 2

From Latin mittere, present active infinitive of mittō.

Verb

metre (first-person singular present meto, past participle mes)

  1. to put, to place
  2. to set
Conjugation
Synonyms
Related terms

Old French

Etymology

From Latin mittere, present active infinitive of mittō.

Verb

metre

  1. to put, to place

Conjugation

This verb conjugates as a third-group verb. This verb has irregularities in its conjugation. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

Descendants


Turkish

metre

Etymology

Borrowing from French mètre.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mɛtɾɛ/

Noun

metre (definite accusative metreyi, plural metreler)

  1. metre, meter (unit of measure, 100 cm)
  2. rule, folding rule