any of various measuring instruments for measuring a quantity
"The mechanic checked the car's fuel meter to see how much gas was left in the tank."
A device that measures things.
"The car's fuel meter showed we still had enough gas to reach the next town."
In plain English: A meter is a unit of measurement used to determine length, distance, or volume.
"The electric meter on the wall shows how much power the house has used this month."
Usage: Use "meter" as a noun to refer to a mechanical or electronic device that records consumption, such as an electric meter or water meter. Do not use it when you mean to measure something with your feet, for which the correct word is "metre."
To measure with a metering device.
"The utility company sent a technician to meter our home's electricity usage after we noticed an unexpected spike in our bill."
In plain English: To meter something means to control its flow by measuring how much passes through at a time.
"The new meter will be installed at your home next week."
Usage: Use "meter" to mean measuring or regulating the flow of something, such as water, gas, or electricity, by using a specific counting device. Do not use it to describe general measurement without a mechanical apparatus.
The word meter comes from Middle English metere, meaning "one who measures," which evolved from Old English roots combining mete ("to measure") and the suffix -er. Over time, the term shifted to refer to a measuring device rather than just the person performing the measurement.