meter

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English mēter, from Latin metrum, from Greek metron measure, meter; Anglo-French metre, from Latin metrum — more at measure Date: before 12th century 1. a. systematically arranged and measured rhythm in verse: (1) rhythm that continuously repeats a single basic pattern <

iambic meter

> (2) rhythm characterized by regular recurrence of a systematic arrangement of basic patterns in larger figures <

ballad meter

> b. a measure or unit of metrical verse — usually used in combination <

pentameter

> — compare foot 4 c. a fixed metrical pattern ; verse form 2. the basic recurrent rhythmical pattern of note values, accents, and beats per measure in music II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from meten to mete Date: 14th century one that measures; especially an official measurer of commodities III. noun Etymology: French mètre, from Greek metron measure Date: 1797 the base unit of length in the International System of Units that is equal to the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in {frac1/299,792,458} second or to about 39.37 inches — see metric system table IV. noun Etymology: -meter Date: 1815 1. an instrument for measuring and sometimes recording the time or amount of something <

a parking meter

> <

a gas meter

> 2. postage meter; also a marking printed by a postage meter V. transitive verb Date: 1878 1. to measure by means of a meter 2. to supply in a measured or regulated amount 3. to print postal indicia on by means of a postage meter