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Metre: The Standard SI Unit of Length – Definition and History

The term “metre” (or “meter” in American English) has a specific definition and etymology:

  1. Definition: The metre is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds. The metre is widely used around the world for everyday measurements as well as in science and engineering.
  2. Etymology and Origin: “Metre” comes from the Greek word “metron,” meaning “measure.” The term was first proposed as a unit of length by the French Academy of Sciences in 1791 as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth’s equator to the North Pole along a meridian. This definition has evolved over time to its current definition based on the speed of light.

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