metre
MEE-tuh
Also spelled meter (US spelling)
Metre (noun) means the basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to about 39.4 inches. Example: “The fence is about two metres high, so the dog cannot jump it.”
noun
1
The basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to about 39.4 inches.
"The fence is about two metres high, so the dog cannot jump it."
"Please stand one metre back from the edge of the platform."
"The pool is twenty-five metres long."
2
The rhythmic pattern of a poem or piece of music.
"The song's lively metre makes it easy to clap along."
"Students learn to tap out the metre of each line."
"The poem is written in a strict iambic metre."
How to use metre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the metric unit of length, or the rhythm pattern in poetry and music.
UK vs US
Metre is the British spelling; American English uses meter for the unit of length (but meter for the measuring device in both varieties).
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- metres
- Third person singular
- metres
- Past tense
- metred
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The fence is about two _____ high, so the dog cannot jump it.
Etymology
From French mètre, from Greek metron ("measure").
Related words
Rhymes for metre
See all rhymes for metre →Frequently asked questions
What does “metre” mean?
The word “metre” means the basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to about 39.4 inches. In plain terms, either the metric unit of length, or the rhythm pattern in poetry and music.
How do you pronounce “metre”?
“Metre” is pronounced MEE-tuh (/ˈmiːtəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “metre” in a sentence?
Here is “metre” used in a sentence: “The pool is twenty-five metres long.”
What part of speech is “metre”?
“Metre” is a noun.
Where does the word “metre” come from?
The word “metre” comes from French. From French mètre, from Greek metron ("measure").
Is “metre” a common word?
“Metre” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “metre” have?
“Metre” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to about 39.4 inches.
What is the difference between metre and meter?
Metre and meter refer to the same concepts but follow different spelling conventions: metre is the standard British English spelling, while meter is used in American English. Both spellings apply to the unit of length and to the rhythmic pattern in poetry or music.
What is the difference between metre as a unit of length and metre in poetry?
As a unit of length, a metre is a fixed measurement equal to about 39.4 inches, used in the metric system. As a poetic term, metre refers to the rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse or music, which is an entirely separate meaning connected only by the shared word.
How is metre used in poetry?
In poetry, metre describes the regular rhythmic structure created by patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables, such as in iambic pentameter. This rhythmic pattern helps give a poem its musical quality and can also apply to the rhythmic structure of music.
