| 释义 |
▪ I. metric, a.1 and n.1|ˈmɛtrɪk|
[ad. L. metric-us (Quintilian), a. Gr. µετρικ-ός, f. µέτρον metre n.1 Cf. F. métrique.]
A. adj.
1. = metrical a.1 1. rare.
18..Blackie (Ogilvie), Hesiod with his metric fragments of rustic wisdom.
2. = metrical a.1 2. esp. relating to, involving, or defining distance; metric geometry = metrical geometry s.v. metrical a.1 2; metric space [tr. Ger. metrischer raum (F. Hausdorff Grundzüge der Mengenlehre (1914) vii. 211)], a set together with a metric defined for all pairs of elements of the set.
1866Q. Jrnl. Pure & Appl. Math. VII. 54 Euclid i. 47 is an example of..metric geometry. 1873Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. IV. 387 This metric geometry is due to Prof. Cayley. 1885in Cassell's Encycl. Dict. 1910Veblen & Young Projective Geom. i. 12 The difference between projective and the ordinary Euclidean metric geometry. 1916Monthly Notices R. Astron. Soc. LXXVI. 701 The line-element ds must be invariant for all transformations, and it entirely characterises the metric properties of the four-dimensional time-space. 1923J. Rice Relativity xiii. 312 Space-time is a metric four-dimensional manifold. 1927Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. XXXIII. 14 The following illustrations convey some notion of the scope of the concept metric space. If the aggregate P denotes the linear continuum of all real numbers and (p, q) = {vb}p - q {vb}, the resulting space is metric. Similarly euclidean space is also metric. 1963R. A. Rosenbaum Introd. Projective Geom. & Mod. Algebra i. 12 Note that all the items of this list of non⁓projective properties involve magnitudes of lengths and angles. Such ‘metric’ properties are the concern of traditional elementary geometry. The situation may be loosely described by stating that metric geometry treats of more highly restricted properties than those of projective geometry. 1968E. T. Copson Metric Spaces i. 3 The study of the properties of sets of ‘points’ in a ‘space’ whose only geometrical property is the existence of a ‘distance’ between each pair of ‘points’ is called metric space topology. Ibid. ii. 21 Different choices of metric on a given set E give rise to different metric spaces. 1971Nature 5 Nov. 35/1 It has the properties of a metric function in a space, the elements of which are finite non-empty sets.
B. n. sing. and pl.
1. The science or art that deals with metre, esp. with the laws of versification in Greek and Latin. (Cf. G. die metrik, F. la métrique, Gr. ἡ µετρική, τὰ µετρικά.)
1760Stiles Grk, Music in Phil. Trans. LI. 730 To harmonic, rhythmic and metric, in the theoretic, respectively answered melopœïa, rhythmopœïa, and poetic, in the practic. 1884Mahaffy in Contemp. Rev. June 904 Is the study of metric really banished from English classics? 1892Mod. Lang. Notes VII. 100 Metrics and æsthetics go hand in hand. 1898Keep in Amer. Jrnl. Philol. XIX. 123 They were able to lecture on grammar, epigraphy, numismatics,..mythology, metrics, art, archaeology. 1905Athenæum 29 July 140/2 The great Orientalist..attempted..to connect the laws of Hebrew metrics with Oriental poetry in general. 1952G. Sarton Hist. Sci. I. xx. 521 Ancient music included not only music as we understand it but also metrics, poetry. 1970Jrnl. Eng. & Gmc. Philol. LXIX. 81 Rules for syntax and metrics in Beowulf.
2. Math. and Physics. A metric function, i.e. one defining a distance or an abstract quantity analogous to distance (see quot. 1962).
1921Proc. R. Soc. A. XCIX. 104 In the non-Euclidean geometry of Riemann, the metric is defined by certain quantities, gµν, which are identified by Einstein with the potentials of the gravitational field. 1934C. C. Krieger tr. Sierpiński's Introd. Gen. Topology vi. 90 In every metric space M a metric, which is equivalent to the given one, can be established,..such that the new distances between the elements of M are all ≤1. 1956E. H. Hutten Lang. Mod. Physics iii. 114 Riemann gave a better representation for the multiplicity of geometries by taking space to be a three-dimensional manifold, and it is the metric given by a mathematical expression referring to distance that decides the type of geometry. 1962B. H. Arnold Intuitive Concepts Elem. Topology viii. 138 The function of d is a metric in X if and only if the following conditions are satisfied for all points x, y, and z of X.(1) d(x, y) ⩾ 0. (2) d(x, y) = 0 iff x = y. (3) d (x, y) = d(y, x). (4) d(x, y) + d(y, z) ⩾ d(x, z). 1965J. D. North Measure of Universe iv. 63 In 1908 Minkowski introduced into the context of the Special Theory of Relativity the metric now known by his name: ds2 = dt2 - (1/c2)(dx2 + dy2 + dz2). The null geodesics of Minkowski space-time represent the paths followed by light.
3. = metre n.1 1 a.
1933T. S. Eliot Use of Poetry ii. 38, I do not even believe that the metric of The Testament of Beauty is successful. 1941R. Girvan in Proc. Brit. Acad. 1940 331 The metric is astonishing and cannot be paralleled in Anglo-Saxon poetry. 1951T. S. Eliot Poetry & Drama ii. 20 He [sc. Yeats] wrote plays in verse..in a metric which..is not really a form of speech quite suitable for anybody except mythical kings and queens.
4. (See quot. 1934.)
1934H. C. Warren Dict. Psychol. 166/2 Metric, a system or standard of measurement in terms of which the conclusions stated hold. 1968Language XLIV. 715 The simplicity metric demands that one choose the unmarked segment as the underlying one, since its choice leads to less complexity in the phonological representation. 1973A. H. Sommerstein Sound Pattern Anc. Greek iii. 94 This statement does not depend on the acceptance of a feature-counting simplicity metric. P. H. Matthews, in a seminar at Cambridge, has criticized the assumption that such a metric is the appropriate evaluation measure for grammars.
▸ colloq. In pl. Measurements, figures, statistics.
1988Conservation Biol. 2 338 Prediction of bird-community metrics in urban woodlots. 2002Business 2.0 Oct. 124 (advt.) ICG owns and manages its own network, and the latency and downtime metrics in their service level agreement..are incredible, better than any other carrier I've found. 2004Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 23 May (Business section) 5 MmO2 has delivered a double whammy of strong operational metrics and excellent financial progress.
▪ II. metric, a.2 and n.2|ˈmɛtrɪk|
[ad. F. métrique, f. mètre metre n.2]
A. adj.
a. Pertaining to that system of weights and measures of which the metre is the fundamental unit. metric ton, 1000 kilogrammes (2204·6 lb. avoirdupois, or 0·9842 ton); = tonne.
The system is decimal throughout, and the unit in each of its branches has a definite relation to the metre; for instance, the gramme, the unit of weight, represents the weight of a cubic centimetre of water.
1864Act 27 & 28 Vict. c. 117 An Act to render permissive the Use of the Metric System of Weights and Measures... This Act may be cited as the ‘Metric Weights and Measures Act, 1864’. 1873Maxwell Electr. & Magn. (1881) I. 2 In France, and other countries which have adopted the metric system. 1873I. Gregory Brit. Metric Syst. 47 How many metric pints are there in 20 thousand ‘reputed pint’ bottles? 1898Daily News 27 May 7/3 That the government be urged to adopt the metric weights and measures. 1924Times Trade & Engin. Suppl. 29 Nov. 238/3 The output of certain important goods has considerably increased:..sugar to 318,987 metric tons, against 270,279. 1957G. E. Hutchinson Treat. Limnol. I. viii. 546 A quantity of salt of the order of 100,000 metric tons per year is transported. 1973Guardian 25 Jan. 7/5 The Government yesterday took a hard line with newsprint manufacturers by allowing increases of only {pstlg}2 a metric ton (tonne).
b. Having the metric system as the principal system of weights and measures.
1919[see Newton 2]. 1960Nature 2 July 30/2 There is no strong feeling in industry or commerce that Britain is being adversely affected..in exports to metric countries by the retention of the Imperial system. 1961B.S.I. News Apr. 16/1 The controversial issue of whether this country should ‘go metric’. 1971Sci. Amer. Sept. 76/2 A metric America..would seem to be desirable in terms of our stake in world trade. 1974Times 22 May 6 Virtually every country in the world is metric.
B. n.2 Metric measurement; metric weights and measures collectively.
1969Times 21 July p. vii/5 Metric is so much easier to teach and to learn. 1970Daily Tel. 21 May 10/5 Metric was so simple that a toddler could learn it, he said. And the litre was not strange to car-buyers. 1971Nature 13 Aug. 439/1 The deliberate encouragement of the tendency towards metric could quite quickly create a situation in which the metric system was as widely used as the conventional system in the United States. 1973Country Life 27 Dec. 2186/1 Once we get used to metric, things should be simpler for all of us. |