noun · verb · 16 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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mē′tər
rhymes with -iːtə(ɹ)
/ˈmitəɹ/
General-American:[ˈmiɾɚ]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmiːtə/
South-Asia:/ˈmiːʈər/
mĕt′ər
rhymes with -ɛtə(ɹ)
South-Asia, uncommon:/mĕʈ.ɜr/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:M IY1 T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A device that measures things.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A device that measures things.
A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
gas meter
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
One who metes or measures.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, dated, uncountable
Examples
a labouring coal-meter
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A line above or below a hanging net, to which the net is attached in order to strengthen it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
US standard spelling of metre (“a unit of measure”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Narrower terms: catalexis, scansion, common measure, common meter, metrical foot, foot, metrical unit
14
noun
Meaning 14
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: metre, m
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: metric linear unit
15
verb
Meaning 15
measure with a meter
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
meter the flow of water
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: quantify, measure
16
verb
Meaning 16
stamp with a meter indicating the postage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
meter the mail
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: stamp
History
Etymology
From Middle English metere (“one who measures, measurer”), perhaps (with change in suffix) from Old English metend (“one who measures or metes”), equivalent to mete (“to measure”) + -er. The transference from "person who measures" to "device that measures" was probably assisted by association with -meter, as in barometer, etc. Cognate with Scots mettar, metter (“meter, measurer”), Saterland Frisian Meter, Meeter (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), West Frisian mjitter (“measurer”), Dutch meter (“measurer, gauge”), German Low German Meter (“measuring device, gauge”), German Messer (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), Swedish mätare (“measurer”).
Borrowed from French mètre, itself borrowed from Latin metrum, borrowed from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron).
From Middle English meter, metre, from Old English meter and Old French metre; both from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron).
Across languages
Translations
132 source translations are retained for this English entry.