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metro

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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    From French métro, clipping of métropolitain (from Ancient Greek μήτηρ (mḗtēr, mother) + πόλις (pólis, city)), as in the Chemin de fer métropolitain, an early name for the Paris Métro. This name was a direct translation of "Metropolitan Railway", which was the original name of the earliest part of the London Underground, constructed in 1863.

    Alternative forms

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    Noun

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    metro (plural metros)

    1. (general) A rapid transit rail transport system, or a train in such systems, generally underground and serving a metropolitan area.
      Synonyms: (US, Canada, Scotland, South Africa) subway, (London) underground, underground railway, (London slang) Tube, tube
      He is going to the stadium by metro.
      • 2000, Frederick Parkins, The NATO Opposition, →ISBN, page 27:
        Recalling that Davide Lungo returned the van at the airport, Pizo descended the nearby stairs to the underground metro, and boarded the next metro stopping there.
      • 2014, Lily Sergueiew, I Worked Alone: Diary of a Double Agent in World War II Europe, →ISBN:
        I hurry to the underground. ... I am waiting for the next metro; I'll take it.
      • 2017, Pam Taylor, 399 Days: Our European Escapade, →ISBN:
        What we entered into here was well lit and had clean silver curvy walls that ended in nice automatic elevators that took you underground. The walls are not infested with graffiti and advertisements; they were clean and shiny. We waited on nice benches until the metro arrived.
    2. (less common) An urban rapid transit rail transport system, normally with lighter track and light trains (i.e. an S-Bahn or similar), or a train in such systems.
      • 2006, C. A. Brebbia, V. Dolezel, Urban Transport XII: Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century, page 227:
        Informs how long the passenger has to wait for the next metro
      • 2008, Brandon Wilson, Along the Templar Trail: Seven Million Steps for Peace, →ISBN, page 75:
        With the weather clear and warm for a change, I decided to catch the next metro to the outskirts of town by myself.
      • 2015, Pratyush Sinha, Love in Metro: Story of Love and Ego, →ISBN:
        I boarded the Yellow Line Metro, beaming with confidence. I got down at Rajiv Chowk to continue my journey towards Noida City Centre (NCC). The next metro arrived.
    Derived terms
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    Translations
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    Etymology 2

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    Clipping of metropolitan.

    Noun

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    metro (plural metros)

    1. A metropolitan area.
      • 2019 August 12, Derek Thompson, “America's Hot New Job Is Being a Rich Person's Servant”, in The Atlantic[1], archived from the original on 26 August 2019:
        In an age of persistently high inequality, work in high-cost metros catering to the whims of the wealthy—grooming them, stretching them, feeding them, driving them—has become one of the fastest-growing industries. [] Relationships between the classes, once mediated through the household, are now managed through an app that serves a large metro area.
      • 2024 November 28, Josh Ocampo, “Expensive ZIP Codes Have Something in Common”, in The New York Times[2], archived from the original on 1 December 2024:
        What was the least expensive of the 153 ZIP codes? 72758 (Benton County, Ark.), with a median price of $408,403. The area includes Rogers, a growing metro and home to the first Walmart store.

    Adjective

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    metro (comparative more metro, superlative most metro)

    1. metropolitan
    Derived terms
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    Anagrams

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    Aragonese

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    Noun

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    metro m

    1. metre

    Catalan

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    Etymology

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    Clipping of metropolità.

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    metro m (plural metros)

    1. metro (train)

    Further reading

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    Crimean Tatar

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    Noun

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    metro

    1. metro, underground railway

    Declension

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    Declension of metro
    nominative metro
    genitive metronıñ
    dative metroğa
    accusative metronı
    locative metroda
    ablative metrodan

    References

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    • Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002), Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎[3], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

    Czech

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    Etymology

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    Borrowed from French métro, from métropolitain in chemin de fer métropolitain.

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    metro n

    1. metro, subway (underground railway)
      Kolik stojí lístek na metro?
      How much does a metro-ticket cost?

    Declension

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    Further reading

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    Dutch

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    Etymology

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    Borrowed from French métro, from métropolitain in chemin de fer métropolitain.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈmeː.troː/
    • Audio:(file)
    • IPA(key): /meː.ˈtroː/ (dated)
    • Hyphenation: me‧tro

    Noun

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    metro m (plural metro's, diminutive metrootje n)

    1. an underground railway or underground-railway system, a subway, a metro
      Synonym: ondergrondse c
      • 1962, “Engelse studenten bekijken metrotunnel (1962)”, in Polygoon-Profilti Neerlands Nieuws[4] (cinema newsreel), spoken by Philip Bloemendal, Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, via YouTube, retrieved 6 February 2026:
        Engelse bouwkundige studenten hebben op uitnodiging van de Stichting Vakopleiding Bouwbedrijf in Rotterdam de werkzaamheden aan de metro in ogenschouw genomen.
        At the invitation of the Foundation for Vocational Training in the Construction Industry, British civil engineering students observed the work carried out on the underground railway in Rotterdam.
    2. an underground-railway train

    Derived terms

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    Esperanto

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    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    metro (accusative singular metron, plural metroj, accusative plural metrojn)

    1. metre (unit of measurement)
    2. (poetry) metrum

    Derived terms

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    Further reading

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    Finnish

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    Image
    Helsinki Metro

    Etymology

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    From French métro.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈmetro/, [ˈme̞t̪ro̞]
    • Audio:(file)
    • Rhymes: -etro
    • Syllabification(key): met‧ro
    • Hyphenation(key): met‧ro

    Noun

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    metro

    1. a metro, an underground, a subway, a Tube
      Synonym: maanalainen

    Declension

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    Inflection of metro (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
    nominative metro metrot
    genitive metron metrojen
    partitive metroa metroja
    illative metroon metroihin
    singular plural
    nominative metro metrot
    accusative nom. metro metrot
    gen. metron
    genitive metron metrojen
    partitive metroa metroja
    inessive metrossa metroissa
    elative metrosta metroista
    illative metroon metroihin
    adessive metrolla metroilla
    ablative metrolta metroilta
    allative metrolle metroille
    essive metrona metroina
    translative metroksi metroiksi
    abessive metrotta metroitta
    instructive metroin
    comitative See the possessive forms below.
    Possessive forms of metro (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
    first-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative metroni metroni
    accusative nom. metroni metroni
    gen. metroni
    genitive metroni metrojeni
    partitive metroani metrojani
    inessive metrossani metroissani
    elative metrostani metroistani
    illative metrooni metroihini
    adessive metrollani metroillani
    ablative metroltani metroiltani
    allative metrolleni metroilleni
    essive metronani metroinani
    translative metrokseni metroikseni
    abessive metrottani metroittani
    instructive
    comitative metroineni
    second-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative metrosi metrosi
    accusative nom. metrosi metrosi
    gen. metrosi
    genitive metrosi metrojesi
    partitive metroasi metrojasi
    inessive metrossasi metroissasi
    elative metrostasi metroistasi
    illative metroosi metroihisi
    adessive metrollasi metroillasi
    ablative metroltasi metroiltasi
    allative metrollesi metroillesi
    essive metronasi metroinasi
    translative metroksesi metroiksesi
    abessive metrottasi metroittasi
    instructive
    comitative metroinesi
    first-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative metromme metromme
    accusative nom. metromme metromme
    gen. metromme
    genitive metromme metrojemme
    partitive metroamme metrojamme
    inessive metrossamme metroissamme
    elative metrostamme metroistamme
    illative metroomme metroihimme
    adessive metrollamme metroillamme
    ablative metroltamme metroiltamme
    allative metrollemme metroillemme
    essive metronamme metroinamme
    translative metroksemme metroiksemme
    abessive metrottamme metroittamme
    instructive
    comitative metroinemme
    second-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative metronne metronne
    accusative nom. metronne metronne
    gen. metronne
    genitive metronne metrojenne
    partitive metroanne metrojanne
    inessive metrossanne metroissanne
    elative metrostanne metroistanne
    illative metroonne metroihinne
    adessive metrollanne metroillanne
    ablative metroltanne metroiltanne
    allative metrollenne metroillenne
    essive metronanne metroinanne
    translative metroksenne metroiksenne
    abessive metrottanne metroittanne
    instructive
    comitative metroinenne

    Derived terms

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    Further reading

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    Anagrams

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    Galician

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    Pronunciation

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    Etymology 1

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    Borrowed from French mètre, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, measure).

    Noun

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    metro m (plural metros)

    1. (measure) meter
    2. (measuring instruments) tape measure, measuring tape
    3. (poetry, music) metre (the rhythm or measure in verse and musical composition)
    Derived terms
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    Etymology 2

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    Borrowed from French métro, clipping of métropolitain.

    Noun

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    metro m (plural metros)

    1. (transport) metro
      Synonym: metropolitano

    Further reading

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    Ido

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    Ido Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia io

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    metro (plural metri)

    1. metre (unit of measurement)
    2. metrum of poetry

    Italian

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    Etymology 1

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    Italian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia it

    From Latin metrum (a measure), from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron).

    Noun

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    metro m (plural metri)

    1. (unit of measure) metre, meter
    2. ruler, measure
    3. yardstick, criterion
    Derived terms
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    Etymology 2

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    Clipping of metropolitana.

    Noun

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    metro f (invariable)

    1. subway (US), underground (UK), Tube (the London underground)
      Synonym: metrò

    Anagrams

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    Latin

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    Noun

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    metrō

    1. dative/ablative singular of metrum

    Lithuanian

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    Lithuanian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia lt

    Etymology

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    Borrowed from French métro.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): [mʲɛˈtrɔ]
    • Hyphenation: me‧tro

    Noun

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    metrò m (indeclinable)

    1. subway, underground, metro (underground railway)
      Synonym: metropolitènas

    Further reading

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    • metro”, in Lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Lithuanian language], lkz.lt, 1941–2026
    • metro”, in Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of common Lithuanian], ekalba.lt, n.d.
    • metro”, in Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of contemporary Lithuanian], ekalba.lt, 1954–2026
    • metro” in Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija [Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia]

    Polish

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    Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia pl

    Etymology

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    Borrowed from French métro, clipping of métropolitain, from Ancient Greek μήτηρ (mḗtēr, mother) + πόλις (pólis, city).

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    metro n

    1. underground, subway, metro (underground railway)

    Declension

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    Further reading

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    • metro”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego[6] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
    • metro”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN[7] (in Polish)

    Portuguese

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    Pronunciation

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    Etymology 1

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    From French mètre, from Latin metrum, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, measure).

    Noun

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    metro m (plural metros)

    1. (measure) metre
    2. metre stick
    Coordinate terms
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    • vara (historical Portuguese equivalent), jarda (American equivalent)
    Derived terms
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    Descendants
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    • Kadiwéu: meetilo

    Etymology 2

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    Portuguese Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia pt
    Image
    Metrô de São Paulo

      Borrowed from French métro, clipping of métropolitain.

      Alternative forms

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      Noun

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      metro m (plural metros)

      1. (Portugal) metro, subway, underground
        Synonym: metropolitano

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      Romanian

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      Noun

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      metro n (plural metrouri)

      1. alternative form of metrou

      Declension

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      singular plural
      indefinite definite indefinite definite
      nominative-accusative metro metroul metrouri metrourile
      genitive-dative metro metroului metrouri metrourilor
      vocative metroule metrourilor

      Serbo-Croatian

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      Noun

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      mètrō m inan (Cyrillic spelling мѐтро̄)

      1. metro

      Declension

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      Declension of metro
      singular plural
      nominative mètrō metroi
      genitive metròa metroa
      dative metrou metroima
      accusative metro metroe
      vocative metro metroi
      locative metrou metroima
      instrumental metroom metroima

      Slovak

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      Etymology

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        Borrowed from French métro.

        Pronunciation

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        • IPA(key): /metrɔ/, [ˈmetrɔ]
        • Rhymes: -etrɔ
        • Hyphenation: met‧ro

        Noun

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        metro n

        1. metro

        Declension

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        Declension of metro
        (pattern mesto)
        singularplural
        nominativemetrometrá
        genitivemetrametier
        dativemetrumetrám
        accusativemetrometrá
        locativemetremetrách
        instrumentalmetrommetrami

        Further reading

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        • metro”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026

        Spanish

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        Image
        Self-retracting metal tape measure (US customary)
        Image
        A sliced tape measure

        Pronunciation

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        Etymology 1

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        Spanish Wikipedia has an article on:
        Wikipedia es

        Borrowed from French mètre, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, measure).

        Noun

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        metro m (plural metros)

        1. (measure) meter
          • 2025 January 22, Reuters, “Nepal aumenta a US$ 15.000 la tarifa para escalar el monte Everest”, in CNN en Español[8]:
            Un permiso para escalar el monte Everest de 8.849 metros (29.032 pies) costará US$ 15.000, dijo Narayan Prasad Regmi, director general del Departamento de Turismo, anunciando un aumento del 36% en la tarifa de US$ 11.000 que ha estado vigente durante casi una década.
            (please add an English translation of this quotation)
        2. (measuring instruments) tape measure, measuring tape
          Synonym: cinta métrica
        3. (measuring instruments) folding rule
          Synonym: metro plegable
        4. (poetry, music) metre (the rhythm or measure in verse and musical composition)
        Coordinate terms
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        • (unit of length): vara (historical Spanish equivalent)
        Derived terms
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        Descendants
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        Etymology 2

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        Spanish Wikipedia has an article on:
        Wikipedia es

        Borrowed from French métro, clipping of métropolitain.

        Noun

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        metro m (plural metros)

        1. (transport) metro
          Synonym: (Argentina) subte
        Derived terms
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        Further reading

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        Anagrams

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        Swedish

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        Etymology

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        Borrowed from French métro. First attested in 1915[1].

        Finland sense via Finnish metro, from French métro.

        Pronunciation

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        Noun

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        metro c

        1. (Sweden, chiefly foreign) metro, subway
          Synonyms: t-bana, tunnelbana
          nere i Paris metro
          down in the Paris metro
        2. (Finland) subway; underground railway
          Synonym: tunnelbana (Sweden)

        Declension

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        References

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        1. ^ metro”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)

        Tagalog

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        Etymology

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          Borrowed from Spanish metro.

          Pronunciation

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          Noun

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          metro (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜒᜆ᜔ᜇᜓ)

          1. meter (unit of length)
          2. meter (measuring instrument)
            Synonym: kontador
          3. (by extension) taximeter
          4. (by extension) tape measure, measuring tape
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          See also

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          Turkish

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          Etymology 1

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          From French métro.

          Noun

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          metro (definite accusative metroyu, plural metrolar)

          1. subway

          Etymology 2

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          From Italian metro.

          Noun

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          metro (definite accusative metroyu, plural metrolar)

          1. meter, metre

          References

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          • Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–), “metro”, in Nişanyan Sözlük
          • Avery, Robert et al., editors (2013), The Redhouse Dictionary Turkish/Ottoman English, 21st edition, Istanbul: Sev Yayıncılık, →ISBN

          Veps

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          Etymology

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          (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

          Noun

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          metro

          1. metro (underground railway)

          Inflection

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          Inflection of metro (inflection type 1/ilo)
          nominative sing. metro
          genitive sing. metron
          partitive sing. metrod
          partitive plur. metroid
          singular plural
          nominative metro metrod
          accusative metron metrod
          genitive metron metroiden
          partitive metrod metroid
          essive-instructive metron metroin
          translative metroks metroikš
          inessive metros metroiš
          elative metrospäi metroišpäi
          illative metroho metroihe
          adessive metrol metroil
          ablative metrolpäi metroilpäi
          allative metrole metroile
          abessive metrota metroita
          comitative metronke metroidenke
          prolative metrodme metroidme
          approximative I metronno metroidenno
          approximative II metronnoks metroidennoks
          egressive metronnopäi metroidennopäi
          terminative I metrohosai metroihesai
          terminative II metrolesai metroilesai
          terminative III metrossai
          additive I metrohopäi metroihepäi
          additive II metrolepäi metroilepäi

          References

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          • Zajceva, N. G.; Mullonen, M. I. (2007), “метро”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary]‎[9], Petrozavodsk: Periodika

          Vietnamese

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          Etymology

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          From English metro.

          Pronunciation

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          Noun

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          metro

          1. metro (system or train)
            Đi thử metro Bến Thành.
            To try travelling on Ben Thanh metro.