/ ˈmiːtə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(especially in compounds) a device that measures and records the amount of electricity, gas, water, etc. that you have used or the time and distance you have travelled, etc. :
A man came to read the gas meter.
The cab driver left the meter running while he waited for us.
—see also light meter
2.
= parking meter
3.
-meter (in compounds) a device for measuring the thing mentioned :
speedometer
altimeter
calorimeter
4.
( NAmE ) = metre :
Who holds the record in the 100 meters?
■ verb
[ vn ] to measure sth (for example how much gas, electricity, etc. has been used) using a meter
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WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun senses 1 to 2 Middle English (in the sense person who measures ): from mete + -er . The current sense dates from the 19th cent.