meters - Master This Word
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meters Word Meanings
- A measuring device for electricity, water, gas, or other quantities.
- A unit of length in the metric system equal to 1 meter.
- The rhythmic pattern of a poem or verse (poetic meter).
meters Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
meters Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈmiːtə/
US
/ˈmiːtər/
meters Word Etymology
(a) Root decomposition: suffix -er attaches to the root met- from Greek metron 'measure'. (b) Historical origin: Greek metron 'measure' → Latin metrum → Old French metre → English metre; American English uses meter. (c) Memory image: imagine a small measure-gnome named Metron holding a ruler that records every measurement, with digits lighting up on a display.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Meter is a word with three common meanings in English. It can be a device that measures something, such as a gas meter, water meter, or electricity meter. It can also be a unit of length in the metric system, spelled meter in American English (the British form is metre). Finally, meter refers to the rhythmic pattern of a poem or verse, the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables. In teaching, it helps to separate these senses clearly: the measuring device is meter, the length unit is meter in American usage and metre in British usage, and the poetry sense is meter. A helpful memory image is Metron, a small measure-gnome who records every measurement.
Usage Reminders
- 1) Use meter for measuring devices like gas or electricity meters.
- 2) Use meter for the length unit (American) or metre in British English.
- 3) Use meter to talk about a poem's rhythm or pattern.
- 4) Watch spelling: metre (British) vs meter (American) when referring to the unit.
- 5) Common collocations: gas meter, parking meter, electric meter.
Common Misconceptions
- Meter is only a unit of length
- Meter always refers to poetry
- Britain uses 'meter' everywhere and never 'metre'
- The device sense and the unit sense are the same spelling and meaning
- Metre is a different word in all contexts
Thinking Differences
For English speakers, meter spans three distinct ideas: a device, a unit, and a poetic rhythm. Learners often mix up the senses, especially confusing metre vs meter due to British vs American spelling, or treating all three as one context.
Learning Tips
- Create three little cards for meter senses: device, unit, poetry.
- Use real examples: gas meter, one meter of fabric, iambic meter.
- Practice with quick samples in different contexts.
- Note spelling: metre (UK) vs meter (US) for the unit.
- Count feet in a line to feel meter in poetry.
- Link each sense to a memory image to reinforce recall.
Related Listening
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