Metre

What is a Metre?

A metre is a way to measure how long something is. It is the main unit for measuring length in most of the world. You might see it written with the symbol m.

Where did it come from?

Long ago, in 1791, people tried to make a metre using the Earth. They thought it would be one part of the way from the equator to the North Pole. Today, we define a metre in a different way. Since 2019, a metre is the distance that light travels in a very tiny part of a second.

Why do we use it?

We use metres to measure many things, like how long a table is or how tall a tree grows. It helps everyone use the same sizes and understand each other better. In the United States, people sometimes spell it meter, but it is the same idea.

Fun Ways to Think About a Metre

One metre is about the same as three feet and a few extra inches. It is also close to 39 inches. Think of a big ruler — that is about one metre long!