meter

== English == === Pronunciation === enPR: mē′tər, Rhymes: -iːtə(ɹ) IPA(key): /ˈmitəɹ/, [ˈmiɾɚ] (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmiːtə/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmiːʈəʳ/ (South Asia) enPR: mĕt′ər, Rhymes: -ɛtə(ɹ) restoration of original French pronunciation IPA(key): /mĕʈ.ɜʳ/ (South Asia, less commonly) Hyphenation: me‧ter === Etymology 1 === From Middle English metere (“one who measures, measurer”), perhaps (with change in suffix) from Old English metend (“one who measures or metes”), equivalent to mete (“to measure”) +‎ -er. The transference from "person who measures" to "device that measures" was probably assisted by association with -meter, as in barometer, etc. Cognate with Scots mettar, metter (“meter, measurer”), Saterland Frisian Meter, Meeter (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), West Frisian mjitter (“measurer”), Dutch meter (“measurer, gauge”), German Low German Meter (“measuring device, gauge”), German Messer (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), Swedish mätare (“measurer”). ==== Noun ==== meter (countable and uncountable, plural meters) A device that measures things. A parking meter or similar device for collecting payment. (dated) One who metes or measures. (American spelling) A line above or below a hanging net, to which the net is attached in order to strengthen it. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== metster ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== meter (third-person singular simple present meters, present participle metering, simple past and past participle metered) To measure with a metering device. To imprint a postage mark with a postage meter. To regulate the flow of or to deliver in regulated amounts (usually of fluids but sometimes of other things such as anticipation or breath). ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Borrowed from French mètre, itself borrowed from Latin metrum, borrowed from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron). ==== Noun ==== meter (countable and uncountable, plural meters) US standard spelling of metre (“a unit of measure”). ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === From Middle English meter, metre, from Old English meter and Old French metre; both from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron). ==== Noun ==== meter (countable and uncountable, plural meters) US standard spelling of metre (“the rhythm or measure in language”). (obsolete) A poem. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Anagrams === -metre, -treme, Emert, metre, remet, retem == Aragonese == === Etymology === From Latin mittere. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /meˈte(ɾ)/ Syllabification: me‧ter Rhymes: -e(ɾ) === Verb === meter to put, to place to put on Synonym: posar (eastern dialects) ==== Usage notes ==== Not to be confused with ficar. A verb which has a similar meaning but but not quite the same. == Danish == === Etymology === Via German Meter, from French mètre, from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron). === Noun === meter c (singular definite meteren, plural indefinite meter) a metre, or meter (US) (SI unit of measurement) ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === References === “meter” in Den Danske Ordbog == Dutch == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈmeːtər/ Hyphenation: me‧ter Rhymes: -eːtər === Etymology 1 === From Middle Dutch meter, metere, equivalent to meten (“to measure”) +‎ -er. Compare English meter, German Messer m. In some compounds conflated with Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron), which is unrelated or, according to one theory, distantly related with the Dutch verb. ==== Noun ==== meter m (plural meters, diminutive metertje n) meter (device that measures things or indicates a physical quantity) Ik heb een meter nodig om de stroom in dit circuit te meten. ― I need a meter to measure the current in this circuit. De meters in het laboratorium zijn zeer nauwkeurig. ― The meters in the laboratory are very precise. Kun je dat kleine metertje even doorgeven? ― Can you pass that small meter please? measurer (person who measures something) ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === Borrowed from French mètre, from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron). Doublet of metrum. ==== Noun ==== meter m (plural meters, diminutive metertje n) meter, metre (unit of distance) De kamer is vijf meter breed. ― The room is five meters wide. Ze liep een afstand van tien meter in de race. ― She ran a distance of ten metres in the race. Dit kleine metertje touw is alles wat ik over heb. ― This small metre of rope is all I have left. ===== Usage notes ===== Generally, the singular is used after numerals. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== Afrikaans: meter → Aukan: meiti → Caribbean Javanese: mèter → Indonesian: meter → Papiamentu: meter === Etymology 3 === From Middle Dutch meter, from metrijn, from Latin matrīna. ==== Noun ==== meter f (plural meters, diminutive metertje n, masculine peter) godmother Synonyms: peettante, petemoei Ze is de trotse meter van haar neefje. ― She is the proud godmother of her nephew. Mijn zus werd gevraagd om meter te zijn bij de doop. ― My sister was asked to be the godmother at the baptism. Elk kind in ons gezin heeft een meter en een peter. ― Every child in our family has a godmother and a godfather. === References === == Galician == === Etymology === From Old Galician-Portuguese meter, from Latin mittō, mittēre (“to send, put”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *meyth₂- (“to exchange, remove”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /meˈteɾ/ [meˈt̪eɾ] Rhymes: -eɾ Hyphenation: me‧ter === Verb === meter (first-person singular present meto, first-person singular preterite metín, past participle metido) (transitive) to put (transitive) to insert (transitive) to bring in (pronominal) to meddle, interfere (transitive) to deliver Meteulle unha patada. ― He delivered him a kick. ==== Conjugation ==== === References === Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “meter”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “meter”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “meter”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “meter”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN === Further reading === “meter”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 “meter”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026 == Indonesian == === Pronunciation === (Standard Indonesian) IPA(key): /ˈmɛtər/ [ˈmɛ.t̪ər] Rhymes: -ɛtər Syllabification: me‧ter === Etymology 1 === From Dutch meter, meten, from Middle Dutch mēten, from Old Dutch metan, from Proto-Germanic *metaną, from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”). From Dutch meter, from French mètre, from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, “measure”), from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁- (“to measure”). Doublet of metrum. ==== Noun ==== mètêr (plural meter-meter) meter, a device that measures things meter, metre, the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI) ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== === Etymology 2 === From Dutch meter, from Middle Dutch meter, from metrijn, from Latin matrīna. ==== Noun ==== mètêr (plural meter-meter) godmother === Further reading === “meter”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016 == Kholosi == === Etymology === From Sanskrit मूत्र (mūtrá). === Noun === meter ? urine === References === Eric Anonby; Hassan Mohebi Bahmani (2014), “Shipwrecked and Landlocked: Kholosi, an Indo-Aryan Language in South-west Iran”, in Cahier de Studia Iranica xx‎[2], pages 13-36 == Ladin == === Etymology === From Latin mittere. === Verb === meter to put, place ==== Conjugation ==== Ladin conjugation varies from one region to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive. == Ladino == === Verb === meter to put == Latin == === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈmeː.tɛr] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈmɛː.ter] === Verb === mēter first-person singular present active subjunctive of mētor == Malay == === Etymology === Either from English metre or meter, or Dutch meter, from French mètre, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, “measure, rule, length, size, poetic metre”). Doublet of matra === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [mi.tə(r)] Rhymes: -tər, -ər Hyphenation: me‧ter === Noun === meter (Jawi spelling ميتر, plural meter-meter or meter2) A meter: The basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Système International d'Unités); a metre or meter. lima meter ― five metres A device that is used to measure and record something (distance, quantity of something used, etc.). meter air ― water meter === Further reading === "meter" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017 == Mòcheno == === Etymology === From French mètre, from Latin metrum (“a measure”), from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron). === Noun === meter m (plural meter) meter (unit of measure) === References === “meter” in Cimbrian, Ladin, Mòcheno: Getting to know 3 peoples. 2015. Servizio minoranze linguistiche locali della Provincia autonoma di Trento, Trento, Italy. == Norwegian Bokmål == === Noun === meter m (definite singular meteren, indefinite plural meter, definite plural meterne) a metre, or meter (US) (SI unit of length) ==== Derived terms ==== == Norwegian Nynorsk == === Noun === meter m (definite singular meteren, indefinite plural meter, definite plural meterane or metrane) a metre, or meter (US) (SI unit of length) ==== Derived terms ==== == Polish == === Pronunciation === (Lesser Poland): (Goral): (Podhale) IPA(key): [ˈmɛ.tɛr] === Noun === meter m inan (Podhale) alternative form of metr (“metre, meter”) (one hundred centimeters) === Further reading === Jan Karłowicz (1903), “metr”, in Hieronim Łopaciński, Wacław Taczanowski, editors, Słownik gwar polskich [Dictionary of Polish dialects] (in Polish), volume 3: L do O, Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności, page 141 == Portuguese == === Alternative forms === metter (pre-standardization spelling) === Etymology === Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese meter, from Latin mittere (“to send, to put”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *meyth₂- (“to exchange, remove”). === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: me‧ter === Verb === meter (first-person singular present meto, first-person singular preterite meti, past participle metido) (transitive) to put in; to insert into Meti o livro na mochila e fui embora. ― I put my book in my backpack and left. (transitive) to put (to place something somewhere) (reflexive) to meddle, interfere (reflexive) to get into (to become involved in) [with em ‘something’] (transitive, vulgar) to fuck, screw ==== Usage notes ==== In Brazilian Portuguese, when used in senses 1 and 2, this word is seen as informal and usually as having a more emphatic, slapdash or aggressive connotation than its synonyms colocar and pôr. Compare the sentences Coloquei o livro na mochila and Meti o livro na mochila, both translating to I put the book in the backpack. While the first one merely describes the action, the second one is usually interpreted as a mildly aggressive or hasty action. See also botar, which is also informal. ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “meter”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “meter” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913 “meter”, in Dicionário infopédia da Lingua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2026 “meter”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2026, →ISBN “meter”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Slovak == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /mecer/, [ˈmecer] Rhymes: -ecer Hyphenation: me‧ter === Noun === meter m inan meter, metre (unit of length) === Further reading === “meter”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026 == Slovene == === Noun === meter m meter, metre (unit of length) === Further reading === “meter”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU (in Slovene), 2014–2026 == Spanish == === Etymology === Inherited from Old Spanish meter, from Latin mittere (“to send”). The semantic shift from "send" to "put" probably occurred in Vulgar Latin. Cognate with English mess and also mission, message. Compare also French mettre, Friulian meti, Portuguese meter, and Italian mettere. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /meˈteɾ/ [meˈt̪eɾ] Rhymes: -eɾ Syllabification: me‧ter === Verb === meter (first-person singular present meto, first-person singular preterite metí, past participle metido) to put in, insert Synonym: insertar (sports) to score meter un gol ― to score a goal to make (noise) meter ruido ― to be noisy to cram, to stuff, to stick, to shove (reflexive) to meddle, interfere, to get into Synonyms: inmiscuirse, meter la nariz (reflexive) to get into (a small space) (reflexive) to get into, to get in meterse en problemas ― to get in trouble. (reflexive) to get into a profession (reflexive, colloquial) to do drugs me meto ― I do drugs ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “meter”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 “meter”, in Diccionario de americanismos [Dictionary of Americanisms] (in Spanish), Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2010 DiPerú | Diccionario de peruanismos en línea == Swedish == === Etymology === Borrowed from English meter. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈmeːtɛr/ === Noun === meter c a metre; the SI-unit (music) Rhythm or measure in verse a meter; a device that measures things. ==== Declension ==== == Tatar == === Etymology === Borrowed from English meter. === Noun === meter meter ==== Declension ====