met'ric

[G. metron, measure.] Relating to measurement, quantitative, m. sys'tem, a system of weights and measures, based upon the me er as a unit. It is the \in i versal system for scientific use and is employed commercially in most countries except those of English-speaking people it is legalized In the United States and allowable in England. The unit, the meter, is one ten-millionth of a quadrant of the earth's meridian, the equivalent of 39.371 Inches. Fractions of a meter are expre ed in Latin numerals: ' decimeter, ^^\ centimeter, jj^; millimeter, xi^T^^ multiples in Greek ntunerals: decameter, 10; hectometer, 100 kilometer 1000. The unit of weight is the gram which is the weight of one cubic centimeter of distilled water, equivalent to 15.4324- grains. The unit of volume is the liter or one cubic decimeter, equal to 1.056 quarts; a cubic centimeter is about 1 5 minims.