Definition
A unit of linear measurement in the metric system equal to 39.37 inches, or approximately 3.28 feet. The meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI).
Plain English
A length used in the metric system. One meter is just over three feet — a little longer than a yard.
Context Anchor
Seen in international aviation charts, aircraft manuals, weather reports, runway visibility values, and performance information that uses metric units.
Derivation
From the Greek 'metron,' meaning 'a measure.' The meter was originally defined in France in the 1790s as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. Knowing it simply means 'a measure' helps explain why related words like 'altimeter' (altitude measure) and 'tachometer' (speed measure) all share the same root.
Why Pilots Care
Most U.S. aviation uses feet and nautical miles, but international charts, foreign aircraft manuals, and ICAO documents often use meters. Knowing the conversion (1 meter ≈ 3.28 feet) prevents errors when reading runway lengths, obstacle heights, or visibility values abroad.
Analogy
A meter is close to the length of a long step. It is not exactly a yard, but it is near enough to picture the size quickly.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “meter” means a cockpit gauge or measuring instrument here. In this use, a meter is a unit of length in the metric system.
Example Sentence 1
The runway at the foreign airport was listed as 2,400 meters long, which works out to roughly 7,870 feet.
Example Sentence 2
During the run-up the pilot watched the fuel flow meter for steady readings.