DictionarymeterRhythmic pattern
noun

meter

A regular pattern of beats in poetry or music.

The poem uses a regular meter.

Etymology

The Greek source means measure. Applied to verse and music, it names the measured arrangement of rhythmic units or beats.

More examples

  • She clapped to mark the meter of the music.
  • The final line breaks the meter.
  • He compared the meters of two songs.

Forms

meter · meters

Similar words

rhythm
The pattern of timing more broadly.
beat pattern
The plain musical description.