metronome

[ me-truh-nohm ]

noun

1. a mechanical or electrical instrument that makes repeated clicking sounds at an adjustable pace, used for marking rhythm, especially in practicing music.

metronome

/ ˌmɛtrəˈnɒmɪk; ˈmɛtrəˌnəʊm /

noun

1. a mechanical device which indicates the exact tempo of a piece of music by producing a clicking sound from a pendulum with an adjustable period of swing

Derived Forms

• metronomic, adjective

Other Words From

• met·ro·nom·ic [me-tr, uh, -, nom, -ik], metro·nomi·cal adjective
• metro·nomi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of metronome¹

1810–20; metro- ¹ + -nome < Greek nómos rule, law

Word History and Origins

Origin of metronome¹

C19: from Greek metron measure + nomos rule, law

Example Sentences

We don’t play with a metronome, I only have one onstage so I can look at it and count in at the right tempo.

From Los Angeles Times

Wang and Bender took turns rotating the children to the left and right in an office chair to the beat of a metronome.

From Science Daily

Foot by foot, the rig’s hammer slammed the pillar into the ground with the rhythmic beat of a metronome.

From Los Angeles Times

"Your heart is not a metronome. The time between your heart beats is irregular, and that's a good thing," Legon said.

From Science Daily

Several studies show that humans are attracted in particular to isochronous patterns, which is a rhythm where all the intervals between events are equal like a metronome.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• timer