WordGarden.iometrically
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈɛtrɪkli/
US
- /ˈmɛtrɪkəli/
Meanings
Adverb
using metric units or in terms of the metric system
with regard to poetic meter or verse rhythm
with regard to musical meter or beat pattern
More meaningsFewer meanings
with respect to a mathematical metric or distance relation
Beyond the definition
Metrically describes something in terms of measurement or meter. In one sense, it means that something is considered by measured amounts, sizes, or units rather than by a loose guess. In another sense, it is used in poetry and music for something that follows a regular beat or pattern of stressed and unstressed parts.
You might see it in a technical setting when people compare lengths, distances, or other values by exact measure. You might also see it in a discussion of verse, where a line is examined metrically to see how its rhythm works. The word often has a careful, structured feel, whether the subject is numbers or poetic form.
Metrically means in a way that relates to measurement or to meter. In general writing, it can mean that something is treated by exact measure, using units, proportions, or other measurable values. For example, two objects may be compared metrically if their size, length, or distance is judged by actual measurement instead of by appearance alone. In this sense, the word points to a measured, exact way of looking at things.
The word also has an important special use in poetry, music, and linguistics. There, metrically refers to rhythm arranged by meter, with a regular pattern of beats or stresses. A poem may be studied metrically to see how its lines are built, or a phrase may be described metrically if it fits a certain rhythmic pattern. In this area, the word is not mainly about physical measurement but about formal rhythm and structure.
Because English also has the noun metric, some modern readers may connect metrically with performance metrics or numerical tracking. That idea can appear in context, but the core meaning is still tied to measurement or meter. Whether someone is speaking about exact measure or about the rhythm of verse, metrically suggests order, pattern, and something that can be examined in a clear, structured way.
Examples
- 1
Poem rhythm
The poem sounds natural when you read it aloud because the lines are metrically balanced.
- 2
Translation rhythm
The translation keeps the meaning of the sonnet, but metrically it is less regular than the original.
- Phrasebut metrically
in terms of its rhythm pattern
- 3
Song rhythm
The two songs are very different harmonically, but metrically they are almost identical.
See also
Similar
- rhythmically
- in meter
Shades of meaning
- prosodically
- accentually
- syllabically
Contrast
- in free verse
- prosaically
Used with (collocations)
- metrically regular
- metrically irregular
- metrically organized
Word family
Explore
- scansion
- prosody
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- metricallyadverb