Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to or based on the meter as a unit of length: Pertaining to the decimal system of measurement using meters, liters, grams, etc.
   • Relating to poetic meter: Concerning the rhythmic pattern or arrangement of syllables in verse.

2. Noun:

   • A standard of measurement; a system or standard for measuring something: Often refers specifically to the decimal-based International System of Units (SI).
   • A quantitative indicator or measure of something: A specific figure or statistic used to assess performance, progress, or a particular characteristic.
   • (Mathematics) A function that defines distance: In mathematics, a function that satisfies specific properties (non-negativity, identity of indiscernibles, symmetry, triangle inequality) to define the distance between any two points in a space.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • Most countries use the metric system for scientific work. (Describes the system of measurement.)
  • The poet analyzed the metric structure of the sonnet. (Describes the rhythmic pattern in poetry.)
• Noun:
  • The key metric for our website is monthly active users. (Refers to a key performance indicator.)
  • In this geometry, we need to define an appropriate metric. (Refers to a mathematical distance function.)
  • The project's success was measured against several metrics. (Refers to standards for measurement.)

Advanced Usage

• "Go metric": To adopt or convert to the metric system of measurement.
  • The industry decided to go metric to align with international standards.
• "A metric ton": A unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms.
  • The shipment weighed over ten metric tons.

Variants and Related Words

• Metrical (adj): Pertaining to poetic meter or rhythm. Often used interchangeably with the poetic sense of "metric."
  • The metrical analysis revealed an iambic pentameter pattern.
• Metrics (n, plural): The study or use of quantitative measures; a set of measurements.
  • Business metrics help in tracking company performance.

Synonyms

• Adjective (measurement): Decimal, SI.
• Noun (measure): Standard, measure, benchmark, indicator, statistic, gauge.
• Noun (mathematics): Distance function.

Related Phrases

• Metric space: (Mathematics) A set for which distances between all members are defined by a specific metric.
  • Euclidean space is a common example of a metric space.
• Metric conversion: The process of changing from one system of measurement to the metric system.
  • The recipe required metric conversion from cups to milliliters.

Adjective

1. the rhythmic arrangement of syllables
2. based on the meter as a standard of measurement
   • the metric system
   • metrical equivalents

Noun

1. a system of related measures that facilitates the quantification of some particular characteristic
2. a decimal unit of measurement of the metric system (based on meters and kilograms and seconds)
   • convert all the measurements to metric units
   • it is easier to work in metric
3. a function of a topological space that gives, for any two points in the space, a value equal to the distance between them