METER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does meter mean? 

• METER (noun)
  The noun METER has 4 senses:

1. the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

2. any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity

3. (prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse

4. rhythm as given by division into parts of equal duration

  Familiarity information: METER used as a noun is uncommon.

• METER (verb)
  The verb METER has 2 senses:

1. measure with a meter

2. stamp with a meter indicating the postage

  Familiarity information: METER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• METER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

m; meter; metre

Hypernyms ("meter" is a kind of...):

metric linear unit (a linear unit of distance in metric terms)

Meronyms (parts of "meter"):

decimeter; decimetre; dm (a metric unit of length equal to one tenth of a meter)

Holonyms ("meter" is a part of...):

dam; decameter; decametre; dekameter; dekametre; dkm (a metric unit of length equal to ten meters)

Derivation:

metric; metrical (based on the meter as a standard of measurement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("meter" is a kind of...):

measuring device; measuring instrument; measuring system (instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "meter"):

electric meter; power meter (a meter for measuring the amount of electric power used)

water meter (meter for measuring the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet)

volumeter (a meter to measure the volume of gases, liquids, or solids (either directly or by displacement))

voltmeter (meter that measures the potential difference between two points)

taximeter (a meter in a taxi that registers the fare (based on the length of the ride))

speed indicator; speedometer (a meter fixed to a vehicle that measures and displays its speed)

reflectometer (a meter that measures the reflectance of a surface)

radiometer (meter to detect and measure radiant energy (electromagnetic or acoustic))

postage meter (meter for bulk mailings that imprints correct prepaid postage on pieces of mail and records the total charge)

ohmmeter (a meter for measuring electrical resistance in ohms)

hodometer; mileometer; milometer; odometer (a meter that shows mileage traversed)

gaussmeter; magnetometer (a meter to compare strengths of magnetic fields)

gas meter; gasometer (a meter for measuring the amount of gas flowing through a particular pipe)

galvanometer (meter for detecting or comparing or measuring small electric currents)

fluxmeter (meter that measures magnetic flux by the current it generates in a coil)

electrometer (meter to measure electrostatic voltage differences; draws no current from the source)

ammeter (a meter that measures the flow of electrical current in amperes)

Derivation:

meter (measure with a meter)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

beat; cadence; measure; meter; metre

Hypernyms ("meter" is a kind of...):

poetic rhythm; prosody; rhythmic pattern ((prosody) a system of versification)

Domain category:

metrics; prosody (the study of poetic meter and the art of versification)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "meter"):

catalexis (the absence of a syllable in the last foot of a line or verse)

scansion (analysis of verse into metrical patterns)

common measure; common meter (the usual (iambic) meter of a ballad)

foot; metrical foot; metrical unit ((prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm)

Derivation:

metrical (the rhythmic arrangement of syllables)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Rhythm as given by division into parts of equal duration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

meter; metre; time

Hypernyms ("meter" is a kind of...):

rhythmicity (the rhythmic property imparted by the accents and relative durations of notes in a piece of music)

Derivation:

metric (the rhythmic arrangement of syllables)

• METER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they meter    ... he / she / it meters   
Past simple: metered   
Past participle: metered   
-ing form: metering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Measure with a meter

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

meter the flow of water

Hypernyms (to "meter" is one way to...):

measure; quantify (express as a number or measure or quantity)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

meter (any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Stamp with a meter indicating the postage

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

meter the mail

Hypernyms (to "meter" is one way to...):

stamp (affix a stamp to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Days times grams per milliliter (area under the curve), divided by meters squared (surface area).

(Day Times Gram per Milliliter per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Days times grams per milliliter, divided by meters squared.

(Day Times Gram per Milliliter per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus)

This is dependent upon the definitions of the meter, kilogram, and second.

(Ampere, NCI Thesaurus)

Days times grams per milliliter (area under the curve), divided by kilograms per meter squared (body mass index).

(Day Times Gram per Milliliter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

They range from small and simple, like a blood glucose meter, to large and complicated, like a ventilator.

(Medical Device Safety, Food and Drug Administration)

It is equal to 4046.8564224 square meters, or 10 square chains, or 160 square rods, 43560 square feet, or 4840 square yards.

(Acre, NCI Thesaurus)

A dose calculation unit expressed in microgram(s) per square meter per period of time equal to twenty-four hours.

(Microgram per Square Meter per Day, NCI Thesaurus)

Meter per second squared is a SI unit of acceleration.

(Meter per Second Squared, NCI Thesaurus)

A SI derived unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector), defined as the distance of one meter travelled per unit time equal to one second.

(Meter per Second, NCI Thesaurus)

Days times grams per milliliter, divided by kilograms per meter squared.

(Day Times Gram per Milliliter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus)