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noun A2 Elementary Common

meter

MEE-tuh
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Also spelled metre (UK spelling)

Meter (noun) means a device that measures the amount of something, such as electricity, gas, or water used. Example: “The water meter in our cellar shows how much we use each month.”

noun
1
A device that measures the amount of something, such as electricity, gas, or water used.
"The water meter in our cellar shows how much we use each month."
"The engineer came to read the electricity meter."
"She fed coins into the parking meter before running into the shop."
verb
1
To measure or control the amount of something using such a device.
"The charity meters its donations carefully so that supplies last through the winter."
"Some councils meter household water use to encourage people to waste less."
"The pump meters out exactly one litre at a time."

How to use meter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA gadget that measures how much of something (gas, electricity, water, parking time) is being used.

UK vs US

In American English, meter is also the standard spelling for the unit of length; British English uses metre for the unit and meter only for the measuring device.

Easily confused with
metre →
Common pairings
gas meter parking meter meter reading
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Word forms

Plural
meters
Third person singular
meters
Past tense
metered
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The water _____ in our cellar shows how much we use each month.

Etymology

From Middle English metere ("one who measures"), related to the verb mete ("to measure"); later applied to measuring devices, likely influenced by words like barometer and thermometer.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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gauge counter measuring instrument measure monitor time m beat cadence metre

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Rhymes for meter

Peter deter Jeter ureter dieter ammeter quieter skeeter diameter catheter altimeter trumpeter
See all rhymes for meter →

Frequently asked questions

What does “meter” mean?
The word “meter” means a device that measures the amount of something, such as electricity, gas, or water used. In plain terms, a gadget that measures how much of something (gas, electricity, water, parking time) is being used.
How do you pronounce “meter”?
“Meter” is pronounced MEE-tuh ([ˈmiɾɚ] in IPA).
How do you use “meter” in a sentence?
Here is “meter” used in a sentence: “The engineer came to read the electricity meter.”
What part of speech is “meter”?
Depending on how it is used, “meter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “meter” come from?
The word “meter” comes from Middle English. From Middle English metere ("one who measures"), related to the verb mete ("to measure"); later applied to measuring devices, likely influenced by words like barometer and thermometer.
Is “meter” a common word?
“Meter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “meter” have?
“Meter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device that measures the amount of something, such as electricity, gas, or water used.
What is the difference between meter and metre?
In British English, a meter is a measuring device — such as a gas meter or parking meter — while metre is the spelling for the unit of length. In American English, meter is the standard spelling for both the device and the unit. The verb, as in "to meter electricity", is spelled meter in both varieties.
What is the difference between a meter and a gauge?
A meter usually records how much of something has been used or has passed through, such as electricity, gas, or water. A gauge usually displays a current level or reading, such as tyre pressure or fuel. The two overlap in everyday use, and both are types of measuring instrument.

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