A meter is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI) and is the base unit of length. It is defined as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in ¹/₂₉₉,₇₉₂,₄₅₈ second or to about 39.37 inches. The meter was originally defined in 1791 by the French National Assembly as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a great circle, so the Earths polar circumference is approximately 40000 km. The word "meter" is derived from the Greek word "metron," meaning "a measure".
In addition to its use as a unit of length, "meter" can also refer to a systematic rhythm in poetry that is usually repeated. In music, a meter is a group of beats that are organized into patterns of strong and weak beats.
To summarize, a meter can refer to:
- A unit of length in the International System of Units (SI)
- A systematic rhythm in poetry
- A group of beats organized into patterns of strong and weak beats in music.
