# meter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmitəɹ/ · frequency rank #6,165

## Definitions
1. A device that measures things.
2. A device that measures things.
3. One who metes or measures.
4. A line above or below a hanging net, to which the net is attached in order to strengthen it.

## Etymology
From Middle English metere (“one who measures, measurer”), perhaps (with change in suffix) from Old English metend (“one who measures or metes”), equivalent to mete (“to measure”) + -er. The transference from "person who measures" to "device that measures" was probably assisted by association with -meter, as in barometer, etc.
Cognate with Scots mettar, metter (“meter, measurer”), Saterland Frisian Meter, Meeter (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), West Frisian mjitter (“measurer”), Dutch meter (“measurer, gauge”), German Low German Meter (“measuring device, gauge”), German Messer (“measurer, measuring device, gauge”), Swedish mätare (“measurer”).

## Easily confused with
- **mets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mets)
- **mute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mute)
- **meth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-meth)
- **mite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mite)
- **Metz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-metz)
- **Myer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-myer)
- **mote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mote)
- **motor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-motor)
- **metre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-metre)
- **Meyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-meyer)
- **motel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-motel)
- **miner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-miner)
- **Mixer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mixer)
- **muted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-muted)
- **mover** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mover)
- **mower** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mower)
- **moser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-moser)
- **miser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-miser)
- **mother** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mother)
- **mister** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meter-vs-mister)

## Common misspellings (6)
`emter`, `meetr`, `meterr`, `metter`, `mmeter`, `mteer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/meter