Illustration of metronome
metronome
noun
met·ro·nome
ˈme-trə-ˌnōm 
: a device designed to mark exact time by a regularly repeated tick
Did you know?
The patent for the metronome was entered in 1816: "John Malzl [sic], of Poland-street, Middlesex, Machinist; for an instrument . . . which he denominates a Metronome, or musical time-keeper." The courts, however, later proved that the aforementioned Johann Maelzel copied a pendulum design of Dietrich Winkel, making Winkel the actual inventor. Nonetheless, Maelzel was the more successful marketer of the metronome and even has a notation named after him. The "M.M." in notations like "M.M. = 60" stands for "Maelzel's metronome" and indicates a tempo of 60 beats per minute or a beat per tick of the metronome as it ticks 60 times, in the case of our example. The name of the invention itself is based on the Greek words metron, meaning "measure," and nomos, meaning "law."
Examples of metronome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Frantic editing ensures that scenes flash forward and backward in time, sometimes within a minute: these alternating shots work like a visual metronome, ticking from side to side.
—
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Ronan bopped her head, and the students were asked to move an arm up and down to the beat of a percussive metronome, while the researchers measured their accuracy.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
In 2013, Ronan was trained to bob her head in time to the pulse of a metronome.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
This metronome light system is a new technological advancement in natural sleep aids.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metronome
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.
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Ronan bopped her head, and the students were asked to move an arm up and down to the beat of a percussive metronome, while the researchers measured their accuracy.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
In 2013, Ronan was trained to bob her head in time to the pulse of a metronome.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
This metronome light system is a new technological advancement in natural sleep aids.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metronome
Cite this Entry
“Metronome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metronome. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metronome
noun
met·ro·nome
ˈme-trə-ˌnōm
: an instrument that ticks regularly to help a music student play in exact time
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share