meta|phys|ics /me təf I z I ks/ N‑UNCOUNT Metaphysics is a part of philosophy which is concerned with understanding reality and developing theories about what exists and how we know that it exists.
mete /miː t/ (metes , meting , meted )
▸ mete out PHRASAL VERB To mete out a punishment means to order that someone should be punished in a certain way. [FORMAL ] □ [V P n] His father meted out punishment with a slipper. [Also V n P ]
me|teor /miː tiə r / (meteors ) N‑COUNT A meteor is a piece of rock or metal that burns very brightly when it enters the earth's atmosphere from space.
me|teor|ic /miː tiɒ r I k, [AM ] -ɔː r-/ ADJ If you use meteoric when you are describing someone's career, you mean that they achieved success very quickly. □ …his meteoric rise to fame.
me|teor|ite /miː tiəra I t/ (meteorites ) N‑COUNT A meteorite is a large piece of rock or metal from space that has landed on Earth.
me|teoro|logi|cal /miː tiərəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Meteorological means relating to meteorology. □ …adverse meteorological conditions.
me|teor|ol|ogy /miː tiərɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Meteorology is the study of the processes in the Earth's atmosphere that cause particular weather conditions, especially in order to predict the weather. ● me|teor|olo|gist /miː tiərɒ lədʒ I st/ (meteorologists ) N‑COUNT □ Meteorologists have predicted mild weather for the next few days.
me|ter /miː tə r / (meters , metering , metered )
1 N‑COUNT A meter is a device that measures and records something such as the amount of gas or electricity that you have used. □ He was there to read the electricity meter.
2 VERB To meter something such as gas or electricity means to use a meter to measure how much of it people use, usually in order to calculate how much they have to pay. □ [V n] Only a third of these households thought it reasonable to meter water. □ [V -ed] Metered taxis are relatively inexpensive.
3 N‑COUNT A meter is the same as a parking meter .
4 → see also metre
me|thane /miː θe I n, [AM ] me θ-/ N‑UNCOUNT Methane is a colourless gas that has no smell. Natural gas consists mostly of methane.
meth|od ◆◆◇ /me θəd/ (methods ) N‑COUNT A method is a particular way of doing something. □ [+ of ] The pill is the most efficient method of birth control. □ …new teaching methods. SYNONYMS method NOUN
means: The move is a means to fight crime.
mechanism: There's no mechanism for punishing arms exporters who break the rules.
way: Freezing isn't a bad way of preserving food.
process: The best way to proceed is by a process of elimination.
me|thodi|cal /məθɒ d I k ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as methodical , you mean that they do things carefully, thoroughly, and in order. □ Da Vinci was methodical in his research, carefully recording his observations and theories. ● me|thodi|cal|ly /məθɒ d I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ She methodically put the things into her suitcase.
Meth|od|ism /me θəd I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Methodism is the beliefs and practices of Methodists.
Meth|od|ist /me θəd I st/ (Methodists ) N‑COUNT Methodists are Christians who follow the teachings of John Wesley and who have their own branch of the Christian church and their own form of worship.
meth|od|ol|ogy /me θədɒ lədʒi/ (methodologies ) N‑VAR A methodology is a system of methods and principles for doing something, for example for teaching or for carrying out research. [FORMAL ] □ Teaching methodologies vary according to the topic. ● meth|odo|logi|cal /me θədəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …theoretical and methodological issues raised by the study of literary texts.
meths /me θs/ N‑UNCOUNT Meths is the same as methylated spirits . [BRIT ]
meth|yl|at|ed spir|its /me θəle I t I d sp I r I ts/ N‑UNCOUNT Methylated spirits is a liquid made from alcohol and other chemicals. It is used for removing stains and as a fuel in small lamps and heaters. [BRIT ]
me|ticu|lous /mət I kjʊləs/ ADJ If you describe someone as meticulous , you mean that they do things very carefully and with great attention to detail. □ He was so meticulous about everything. □ The painting had been executed with meticulous attention to detail. ● me|ticu|lous|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ The flat had been meticulously cleaned.
me|ti|er /me tie I , [AM ] metje I / (metiers ) also métier N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Your metier is the type of work that you have a natural talent for and do well. [FORMAL ] □ It was as the magazine's business manager that he found his true metier.
me|tre ◆◇◇ /miː tə r / (metres ) in AM, use meter 1 N‑COUNT [num N ] A metre is a metric unit of length equal to 100 centimetres. □ She set a world record in the 100 metre sprint at her national championships. □ The tunnel is 10 metres wide and 600 metres long. [Also + of ]
2 N‑VAR In the study of poetry, metre is the regular and rhythmic arrangement of syllables according to particular patterns. [TECHNICAL ] □ They must each compose a poem in strict alliterative metre. □ All of the poems are written in traditional metres and rhyme schemes.
met|ric /me tr I k/ ADJ Metric means relating to the metric system. □ Converting metric measurements to U.S. equivalents is easy.
me t|ric sys|tem N‑SING The metric system is the system of measurement that uses metres, grams, and litres.