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Synonyms

metre

1 British  
/ ˈmiːtə /

noun

  1. a metric unit of length equal to approximately 1.094 yards

  2. the basic SI unit of length; the length of the path travelled by light in free space during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second. In 1983 this definition replaced the previous one based on krypton-86, which in turn had replaced the definition based on the platinum-iridium metre bar kept in Paris

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
metre 2 British  
/ ˈmiːtə /

noun

  1. prosody the rhythmic arrangement of syllables in verse, usually according to the number and kind of feet in a line

  2. music another word (esp US) for time

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of metre1

C18: from French; see metre ²

Origin of metre2

C14: from Latin metrum, from Greek metron measure

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The average price of a square metre for rent has doubled in 10 years, according to online real estate portal Idealista.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

According to the National Trust, healthy peat can store between 30kg and 70kg of carbon per cubic metre - and that is key for our future, says Thomas.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Previously, homeowners needed planning permission if they wanted to put a heat pump within one metre of their neighbour's property, because of concerns over noise.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

An article by Farmers' Daily reshared in state media CCTV's opinion section said in rural Hebei natural gas costs up to 3.4 yuan per cubic metre compared to 2.6 yuan in rural areas of Beijing.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

This melodic symmetry had not been a noticeable feature of the more onward- flowing, unpredictable tunes of Bach and Handel, whose phrases were so often guided by the metre of the words they set.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.