meter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
    m; metre.
  2. noun any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity
  3. noun (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse
    beat; metre; cadence; measure.
  4. noun rhythm as given by division into parts of equal duration
    metre; time.
  5. verb measure with a meter
    • meter the flow of water
  6. verb stamp with a meter indicating the postage
    • meter the mail

WordNet

Me"ter noun
Etymology
From Mete to measure.
Definitions
  1. One who, or that which, metes or measures. See Coal-meter.
  2. An instrument for measuring, and usually for recording automatically, the quantity measured.
Me"ter noun
Definitions
  1. A line above or below a hanging net, to which the net is attached in order to strengthen it.
Me"ter, Me"tre noun (Also<
  • Meter
  • Metre
)
Etymology
OE. metre, F. mètre, L. metrum, fr. Gr. akin to Skr. ma to measure. See Mete to measure.
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913