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liter

[lee-ter]

noun

a unit of capacity redefined in 1964 by a reduction of 28 parts in a million to be exactly equal to one cubic decimeter. It is equivalent to 1.0567 U.S. liquid quarts and is equal to the volume of one kilogram of distilled water at 4°C. Abbreviation: l

Also, especially British, litre.

Origin:
1800–10; < French litre, back formation from litron an old measure of capacity, derivative (with -on noun suffix) of Medieval Latin litra < Greek lítra pound

Can be confused: letter, lighter, liter, litter.

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Liter is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Example Sentences

They come with disposable carbon dioxide cartridges that charge a liter or two of tap water.

It takes three liters of freshwater to make one liter of bottled water.

The amount of water required to produce a liter of petroleum fuel is negligible by comparison.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged

adjective

an informal, simplified spelling of light² (defs. 12, 13), used especially in labeling or advertising commercial products: lite beer.

noun

light² (def. 36).

Related forms

lite·ness, noun

Can be confused: lite, light.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To liter

Collins

World English Dictionary

liter (ˈliːtə)

—n
	the US spelling of litre

litre or (US) liter (ˈliːtə)

—n
1.	one cubic decimetre
2.	(formerly) the volume occupied by 1 kilogram of pure water at 4°C and 760 millimetres of mercury. This is equivalent to 1.000 028 cubic decimetres or about 1.76 pints

[C19: from French, from Medieval Latin litra, from Greek: a unit of weight]

liter or (US) liter

—n

[C19: from French, from Medieval Latin litra, from Greek: a unit of weight]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

liter

1797, from Fr. litre (1793), from litron, obsolete Fr. measure of capacity for grain, from M.L. litra, from Gk. litra "pound," apparently from the same Sicilian Italic source as L. libra.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

liter li·ter (lē'tər)
n.
Abbr. L, l
A unit of volume equal to 1000 cubic centimeters or or 1 cubic decimeter (1.0567 quarts).

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

liter (lē'tər) Pronunciation Key

The basic unit of liquid volume or capacity in the metric system, equal to 1.06 quart or 2.12 pints. See Table at measurement.
The basic unit of dry volume or capacity in the metric system, equal to 0.90 quart or 1.82 pint. See Table at measurement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia

liter

unit of volume in the metric system, equal to one cubic decimetre (0.001 cubic metre). From 1901 to 1964 the litre was defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water at 4C (39.2F) and standard atmospheric pressure; in 1964 the original, present value was reinstated. One litre is equivalent to approximately 1.0567 U.S. quart.

Learn more about liter with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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