WordValemeter
the rhythmic structure of a line of verse
In more detail
1. (noun) a device that measures and records the amount of something, such as electricity, gas, or water used
2. (noun) the rhythm and pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry or music
3. (noun) a unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 centimeters
Examples
- 1. The electricity meter shows how much power your house has used this month.
- 2. This poem is written in iambic meter with ten syllables per line.
- 3. The swimming pool is 50 meters long.
How to use meter
As a measuring device, meter is a standard term in utilities and technical contexts. As a rhythmic unit in poetry and music, it refers to the organized pattern of stressed syllables. The third sense (unit of length) is common in scientific and international contexts. The word's meaning shifts significantly between these senses, so context is crucial for clarity.
Common phrases
- electric meter
- water meter
- gas meter
- parking meter
- meter reading
- poetic meter
Synonyms
gauge · counter · apparatus · rhythm · beat
Word family
metered · meter (verb) · metric · metrical
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse the poetic sense of meter with rhyme; meter concerns rhythm and stress patterns, while rhyme concerns sound repetition at the end of words or lines.
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