# metre

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmiːtə/ · frequency rank #10,237

## Definitions
1. The basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Système International d'Unités), equal to the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in 1/299 792 458 seconds. The metre is equal to 39+⁴⁷⁄₁₂₇ (approximately 39.37) imperial inches.

## Etymology
From French mètre, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, “measure, rule, length, size, poetic metre”). Doublet of meter, metron, and mether.

## Easily confused with
- **more** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-more)
- **mets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mets)
- **mute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mute)
- **mite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mite)
- **Metz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-metz)
- **mire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mire)
- **mote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mote)
- **Moore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-moore)
- **mitra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mitra)
- **mitre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mitre)
- **metric** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-metric)
- **mettle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mettle)
- **met** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/met-vs-metre)
- **mer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mer-vs-metre)
- **mee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mee-vs-metre)
- **mate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mate-vs-metre)
- **mere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mere-vs-metre)
- **meme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meme-vs-metre)
- **meth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meth-vs-metre)
- **mare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mare-vs-metre)

## Common misspellings (6)
`emtre`, `merte`, `metrre`, `mettre`, `mmetre`, `mtere`

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