litre

[ lee-ter ]
/ ˈli tər /

noun Chiefly British.

Definition for litre (2 of 2)

liter
[ lee-ter ]
/ ˈli tər /

noun

a unit of capacity redefined in 1964 by a reduction of 28 parts in a million to be exactly equal to one cubic decimeter. It is equivalent to 1.0567 U.S. liquid quarts and is equal to the volume of one kilogram of distilled water at 4°C. Abbreviation: l
Also especially British, li·tre.

Origin of liter

1800–10; < French litre, back formation from litron an old measure of capacity, derivative (with -on noun suffix) of Medieval Latin litra < Greek lítra pound

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH liter

letter lighter liter litter

Example sentences from the Web for litre

British Dictionary definitions for litre (1 of 2)

litre

US liter

/ (ˈliːtə) /

noun

one cubic decimetre
(formerly) the volume occupied by 1 kilogram of pure water at 4°C and 760 millimetres of mercury. This is equivalent to 1.000 028 cubic decimetres or about 1.76 pints

Word Origin for litre

C19: from French, from Medieval Latin litra, from Greek: a unit of weight

British Dictionary definitions for litre (2 of 2)

liter
/ (ˈliːtə) /

noun

the US spelling of litre

Medical definitions for litre

liter
[ lētər ]

n.

A unit of volume equal to 1000 cubic centimeters or or 1 cubic decimeter (1.0567 quarts).

Scientific definitions for litre

liter
[ lētər ]

The basic unit of liquid volume or capacity in the metric system, equal to 1.06 quart or 2.12 pints. See Table at measurement.
The basic unit of dry volume or capacity in the metric system, equal to 0.90 quart or 1.82 pint. See Table at measurement.