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METRIC SYSTEM
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A decimal system of weights and measures based on the meter and the kilogram and the second
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("metric system" is a kind of...):
system of weights and measures (system of measurement for length and weight and duration)
Meronyms (parts of "metric system"):
metric weight unit; weight unit (a decimal unit of weight based on the gram)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "metric system"):
cgs; cgs system (system of measurement based on centimeters and grams and seconds)
International System; International System of Units; SI; SI system; SI unit; Systeme International; Systeme International d'Unites (a complete metric system of units of measurement for scientists; fundamental quantities are length (meter) and mass (kilogram) and time (second) and electric current (ampere) and temperature (kelvin) and amount of matter (mole) and luminous intensity (candela))
Context examples:
The International System of Units (Systeme International d'Unites, SI) is a decimal system of weights and measures derived from and extending the metric system of units established through the Treaty of the Meter (Convention du Metre) signed in Paris in 1875 and currently signed by 48 nations including all the major industrialized countries.
(International System of Units, NCI Thesaurus)
The metric system units have to satisfy three conditions: one fundamental unit is defined for each quantity; multiples and fractions of fundamental units are created by adding prefixes (denoting powers of ten) to the names of the defined units; the fundamental units are defined rationally and are related to each other in a rational fashion.
(Metric System, NCI Thesaurus)
