4 syllables: Pi, co, me, ter. Stress on me.
pik-oh-MEE-tur
/pɪ koʊ ˈmiː tɚ/
Picometer is pronounced pik-oh-MEE-tur (/pɪ koʊ ˈmiː tɚ/). It has four syllables (Pi-co-me-ter), with the stress on "me". Picometer is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one trillionth of a meter (10^-12 m). It’s used in fields like physics and nanotechnology to measure extremely small distances. The term combines “pico-” (a prefix meaning 10^-12) with “meter.”.
nounPicometer is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one trillionth of a meter (10^-12 m). It’s used in fields like physics and nanotechnology to measure extremely small distances. The term combines “pico-” (a prefix meaning 10^-12) with “meter.”
- Misplacing stress: people often say pic-O-me-ter instead of PIK-uh-ME-ter. Correct by marking the primary stress on the first syllable and a lighter emphasis on the third. - Vowel length mismatch: the middle /ə/ should be a neutral schwa, not a full vowel. Practice keeping /ə/ quick and unstressed. - Final consonant clarity: avoid letting the final /r/ or /ə/ blend too softly; articulate /tər/ or /tə/ clearly. - Plosive release: ensure the /k/ in /pɪk/ is strong, but not too aspirated; stop-release should be clean. - Rhythm: ensure three-syllable rhythm with a distinct long /iː/ in the third syllable.
"Scientists measured the spacing between atoms on the surface in picometers."
"The probe requires picometer-scale precision to function correctly."
"In nanostructure fabrication, features are often controlled within a few picometers."
Pronounce it as PIK-uh-ME-ter (US) or PIK-uh-MEE-tuh (some UK/AU variants). The primary stress is on the first syllable, with a secondary, lighter emphasis on the third syllable. IPA: US /ˈpɪk.əˌmiː.tər/, UK /ˈpɪk.əˌmiː.tə/; AU often mirrors UK with slight vowel shortening: /ˈpɪkəˌmiːtə/. Practice by isolating the root ‘pico-’ (PIK-uh) and ensuring clear /miː/ in the third syllable. Audio resources can be used to confirm the exact vowel length.
Common errors include flattening the stress (saying pic-o-ME-ter instead of PIK-uh-ME-ter) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a short /ɪ/ in all forms. A second error is softening the /t/ so it blends into the following syllable (pico-me-ter). Correct by stressing the first syllable, keeping /ə/ as a schwa in the second, and articulating a clear /miː/ before the final /tər/ or /tə/. Use targeted minimal pairs to reinforce the correct rhythm.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈpɪk.əˌmiː.tər/ with rhotic /ɹ/. UK/AU often realize the final syllable as /tə/ or /tər/ with non-rhotic tendencies sometimes dropping the r in careful speech: /ˈpɪk.əˌmiːtə/. The middle syllable tends to be a long /iː/; some UK speakers reduce the second vowel slightly. Overall the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel quality and final consonant articulation (rhotic vs non-rhotic) vary modestly by region.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic structure with three vowels in a row across syllables and a long /iː/ in the third syllable. Learners may misplace the primary stress or turn /miː/ into a short /mɪ/ sound. Additionally, the ‘-meter’ ending can be misarticulated as /ˈmɛtər/ due to unfamiliarity with -meter words. Focus on clear syllable separation and maintain the long /iː/ in the third syllable.
Picometer carries a two-part prefix-root combination that influences syllable timing: the /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a long /miː/ in the third. The unique challenge is keeping the second syllable light yet audible (/ə/ as a weak vowel) while delivering a crisp final /tər/ or /tə/. This requires precise mouth opening and tongue position to avoid blending into the following syllable and to preserve the distinct three-syllable rhythm.
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- US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep final /tər/ with a light /ər. - UK: less rhotic influence; final syllable often /tə/ or /tər/ depending on speaker. - AU: tends to be non-rhotic in careful speech; the final syllable may be /tə/ with a slight vowel reduction. - Vowel length: the /miː/ is longer than /ɪ/; contrast /ɪ/ in /pɪ/ with /iː/ in /miː/. - Consonants: crisp /k/ in /pɪk/ and clear /t/ in the final cluster; avoid linking into the following word. - IPA reference anchors: US /ˈpɪk.əˌmiː.tər/, UK /ˈpɪ.kəˌmiː.tə/, AU /ˈpɪkəˌmiːtə/.
Picometer derives from the SI prefix pico- meaning one trillionth (10^-12) and meter, the standard unit of length. Pico- originates from the Spanish prefix pico- from the French petit, ultimately from Latin pictus meaning painted, though in modern science it is a purely numerical prefix. The term meter itself dates back to the French metre defined during the French Revolution (1790s) as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. The compound picometer first appeared with advances in nanotechnology and high-precision metrology, where measurements at sub-nanometer scales demanded a dedicated term for 10^-12 meters. The word entered scientific lexicons in the 20th century as measurement techniques and instrumentation evolved, cementing picometer as a standard unit in physics and materials science. First known usage in technical literature traces to mid- to late-20th century when researchers needed a concise unit for atomic-scale distances. Since then, picometer has become common in spectroscopy, crystallography, scanning probe microscopy, and semiconductor metrology, often used alongside nanometer and angstrom in reporting ultra-small lengths.
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Words that rhyme with "Picometer"
-ter sounds
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