Meter

English Meaning

One who, or that which, metes or measures. See Coal-meter.

1. The measured arrangement of words in poetry, as by accentual rhythm, syllabic quantity, or the number of syllables in a line.
2. A particular arrangement of words in poetry, such as iambic pentameter, determined by the kind and number of metrical units in a line.
3. The rhythmic pattern of a stanza, determined by the kind and number of lines.
4. Music Division into measures or bars.
5. Music A specific rhythm determined by the number of beats and the time value assigned to each note in a measure.
6. The international standard unit of length, approximately equivalent to 39.37 inches. It was redefined in 1983 as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. See Table at measurement.
7. Any of various devices designed to measure time, distance, speed, or intensity or indicate and record or regulate the amount or volume, as of the flow of a gas or an electric current.
8. A postage meter.
9. A parking meter.
10. To measure with a meter: meter a flow of water.
11. To supply in a measured or regulated amount: metered the allotted gasoline to each vehicle.
12. To imprint with postage or other revenue stamps by means of a postage meter or similar device: metering bulk mail.
13. To provide with a parking meter or parking meters: meter parking spaces.