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.
"The poet carefully adjusted the metre of her sonnet to ensure a smooth flow throughout the verses."
The rhythm or measure in verse and musical composition.
In plain English: A metre is a standard unit of length used to measure distance, equaling about three feet or thirty centimeters.
"The tall building was exactly twenty metres high."
Usage: Use "metre" for British English contexts regarding length, poetry, or music, while American English prefers "meter." Do not use it as a verb unless specifically referring to the alternative spelling convention.
Alternative spelling of meter
"The poet decided to metre her free-verse poem before submitting it to the literary journal."
To put into metrical form.
In plain English: To measure something by using a specific unit of length, especially for scientific experiments or construction projects.
"The tall building metred out exactly thirty floors before construction halted."
The word comes from the French mètre, which originated in Ancient Greek as métron. Its original meaning was "measure, rule, length, size, or poetic metre."