In the Parthenon, groups of centaurs and heroes in high relief occupy
the metopes.
Me*top"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; the forehead.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to
the forehead or frontal bones; frontal; as, the metopic suture.
Met"o*po*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. &?; the forehead + -mancy.] Fortune
telling by physiognomy. [R.] Urquhart.
{ Met`o*po*scop"ic (?), Met`o*po*scop"ic*al (?), } a. Of or relating to
metoposcopy.
Met`o*pos"co*pist (?), n. One versed in metoposcopy.
Met`o*pos"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?; observing the forehead; &?; the
forehead + &?; to view: cf. F. métoposcopie.] The study of physiognomy;
the art of discovering the character of persons by their features, or
the lines of the face.
||Me*tos"te*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; after + &?; bone.] (Anat.) The
||postero-lateral ossification in the sternum of birds; also, the part
||resulting from such ossification.
<! p. 920 !>
Me"tre (m"tr), n. See Meter.
Met"ric (mt"rk), a. [L. metricus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. métrique. See Meter
rhythm.] 1. Relating to measurement; involving, or proceeding by,
measurement.
2. Of or pertaining to the meter as a standard of measurement; of or
pertaining to the decimal system of measurement of which a meter is the
unit; as, the metric system; a metric measurement.
Metric analysis (Chem.), analysis by volume; volumetric analysis. --
Metric system, a system of weights and measures originating in France,
the use of which is required by law in many countries, and permitted in
many others, including the United States and England. The principal
unit is the meter (see Meter). From this are formed the are, the liter,
the stere, the gram, etc. These units, and others derived from them,
are divided decimally, and larger units are formed from multiples by
10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. The successive multiplies are designated by
the prefixes, deca- , hecto-, kilo-, and myria-; successive parts by
deci-, centi-, and milli-. The prefixes mega- and micro- are sometimes
used to denote a multiple by one million, and the millionth part,
respectively. See the words formed with these prefixes in the
Vocabulary. For metric tables, see p. 1682.
Met"ric*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the meter; arranged in meter;
consisting of verses; as, metrical compositions.
2. Of or pertaining to measurement; as, the inch, foot, yard, etc., are
metrical terms; esp., of or pertaining to the metric system.
Met"ric*al*ly, adv. In a metrical manner.
Me*tri"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. métricien. See Meter rhythm.] A composer of
verses. [Obs.]
Met"ric sys"tem (?). See Metric, a.
Met`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. Composition in metrical form; versification.
[R.] Tennyson.
Met"ri*fy (?), v. i. [L. metrum meter + -fy: cf. F. métrifier.] To make
verse. [R.] Skelton.
Me"trist (?), n. A maker of verses. Bale.
Spenser was no mere metrist, but a great composer.
Lowell.
||Me*tri"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; womb + -tis.] (Med.)
||Inflammation of the womb.
Met"ro*chrome (?), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; color.] An instrument for
measuring colors.
Met"ro*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + -graph.] An instrument attached
to a locomotive for recording its speed and the number and duration of
its stops.
Met`ro*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. métrologique.] Of or pertaining to
metrology.
Me*trol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + -métrologie.] The science of,
or a system of, weights and measures; also, a treatise on the subject.
Met`ro*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + E. mania.] A mania for
writing verses.
Met`ro*ma"ni*ac (?), n. One who has metromania.
Me*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb + -meter.] (Med.) An instrument for
measuring the size of the womb. Knight.
Met"ro*nome (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + &?; distribute, assign: cf. F.
métronome, It. metronomo.] An instrument consisting of a short pendulum
with a sliding weight. It is set in motion by clockwork, and serves to
measure time in music.
Me*tron"o*my (?), n. [See Metronome.] Measurement of time by an
instrument.
Met`ro*nym"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?; mother + &?;, for &?; name.]
Derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor; as, a
metronymic name or appellation. -- n. A metronymic appellation.
Met"ro*pole (?), n. [Cf. F. métropole. See Metropolis.] A metropolis.
[Obs.] Holinshed.
Me*trop"o*lis (?), n. [L. metropolis, Gr. &?;, prop., the mother city
(in relation to colonies); &?; mother + &?; city. See Mother, and
Police.]