liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər How to pronounce liter (audio)
variants or litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mulled Wine Sour Ingredients 15 ml Rye whiskey 15 ml Pedro Ximenez sherry 15 ml Madeira 15 ml sweet vermouth 20 ml orange acid (Mix 1 liter of fresh orange juice with 25 grams citric acid and 15 grams malic acid. Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2024 The fuel tank is 4.7 gallons (18 liters) in capacity. New Atlas, 23 Dec. 2024 For perspective, covering a single hectare of ski slope demands one million liters of water. Dianne Plummer, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024 Seaman bled for hours before undergoing emergency surgery which uncovered four to five liters of blood in her abdomen, the BBC previously reported. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for liter 

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liter was in 1797

Dictionary Entries Near liter

Cite this Entry

“Liter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liter. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or litre
ˈlēt-ər
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or chiefly British litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury

More from Merriam-Webster on liter

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