| metabolism |
the physical and chemical processes by which food is converted by a living organism to provide energy and produce and maintain cells and tissues. |
| metal |
any of several solid mineral elements, such as silver, iron, aluminum, or copper, that can conduct heat and electricity, are malleable under heat or pressure, and typically form salts when combined with nonmetals. [2 definitions] |
| metallic |
pertaining to, made of, or containing metal. [3 definitions] |
| metamorphic |
of, pertaining to, or characterized by change in form. [2 definitions] |
| metamorphosis |
a complete change of form, structure, substance, appearance, or character; transformation. [3 definitions] |
| metaphor |
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used to describe one thing in terms of another in a nonliteral way, such as "drowning in work". |
| meteor |
the bright streak or flash seen in the sky made by generally small-sized space debris passing through Earth's atmosphere and burning up due to high friction, often referred to as a shooting star. |
| meteorite |
a piece of rock originating from asteroids in outer space that has come through Earth's atmosphere and landed on the surface of this planet. |
| meteorologist |
a scientist who studies the weather and atmospheric phenomena. Some meteorologists make weather forecasts for the public. |
| meteorology |
the science that deals with the earth's atmosphere, climates, and weather. |
| -meter |
measure, or a means or device for measuring. |
| meter1 |
the basic unit of length of the metric system, equal to one hundred centimeters or 3.28 feet. |
| meter2 |
the rhythmic arrangement of measured units or feet of poetry, or a particular rhythmic arrangement. [3 definitions] |
| meter3 |
any of numerous devices designed to automatically register or regulate time, distance, velocity, quantity, or degree. [2 definitions] |
| methane |
a flammable hydrocarbon gas that results from the decay of organic material as in marshes and coal mines, and is the main constituent of natural gas. |
| method |
plan or mode of procedure; way. [3 definitions] |
| meticulous |
carefully attentive to every small detail; painstaking. |
| metre |
a spelling of "meter1" (unit of measure) and "meter2" (musical time) used in Canada and Britain. See "meter" for more information. |
| metric1 |
of or pertaining to the system of measurement based on the meter. |
| metric system |
an international system of weights and measures based on the number ten, in which the basic units are the meter for length, the gram for weight, and the liter for volume. |
| metric ton |
a unit of weight equal to one thousand kilograms or 1.102 short tons (2204.623 pounds avoirdupois). |