I. ˈme.trik, -rēk noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Greek metrikē, from feminine of metrikos; in other senses, from metric (variant of metrical)
1. : the part of prosody that deals with metrical structure
the analytical study of metric — T.S.Eliot
— often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
classical metrics
2. : a standard of measurement
its scale or metric is determined by a definition — E.H.Hutten
it is fairly certain that no metric exists that can be applied directly to happiness — Scientific Monthly
— often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
an integrated system of photography, interpretation, and metrics — G.T.McNeil
the metrics of his trade — C.S.Spooner
3. mathematics : a means of specifying values of a variable or positions of a point
Euclidean metric
Riemannian metric
II. adjective
or met·ri·cal -rə̇kəl, -rēk-
Etymology: metric, from French métrique, from mètre meter + -ique -ic; metrical from French métrique + English -al — more at meter
: based on the meter as a standard of measurement : of or measured in terms belonging to the metric system
metric equivalents
• met·ri·cal·ly -rə̇k(ə)lē, -rēk-, -li adverb
III. noun
1. : a mathematical function that associates with each pair of elements of a set a real nonnegative number constituting their distance and satisfying the conditions that the number is zero only if the two elements are identical, the number is the same regardless of the order in which the two elements are taken, and the number associated with one pair of elements plus that associated with one member of the pair and a third element is equal to or greater than the number associated with the other member of the pair and the third element
2. : metric system