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.