kil·o·me·ter 
(k
-l
m
-t
r, k
l
-m
t
r)
KEY NOUN: Abbr. km - A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile). See Table at measurement.
OTHER FORMS:kilo·metric (k
l
-m
t
r
k)
KEY (Adjective)Usage Note: Although the pronunciation of
kilometer with stress on the second syllable, (k
-l
m
-t
r), is often censured because it does not conform to the stress pattern in
millimeter and
centimeter (it originally came about by false analogy with
barometer and
thermometer), it continues to thrive in American English. In a recent survey, 69 percent of the Usage Panel preferred this pronunciation, while 29 percent preferred the pronunciation (k
l
-m
t
r).
