metronome

Everyday

A metronome is a device that ticks or clicks at a steady speed to help musicians keep time. tree →

In the lessons

Met in music lessons; also used to describe something very regular («ticking like a metronome»).

Examples

• My piano teacher sets the metronome to 80 beats a minute. tree →
• The metronome clicked steadily. tree →
• Practise with a metronome to keep a steady beat. tree →
• The old metronome has a swinging arm. tree →
• There is a metronome app on my phone. tree →
• His running steps were as regular as a metronome. tree →

Note

Plural: metronomes. Its speed is measured in beats per minute (bpm). In a maths problem, at 60 bpm the metronome clicks once each second.