noun
metre
MEE-tuh
noun
1
The basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to about 39.4 inches.
"The pool is twenty-five metres long."
2
The rhythmic pattern of a poem or piece of music.
"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
Word Forms
metred past tense, metres plural, metres plural, metres singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “metre”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pool is twenty-five _____ long.
Etymology
From French mètre, from Greek metron ("measure").