kilometer

kil•o•me•ter

[[t]kɪˈlɒm ɪ tər, ˈkɪl əˌmi-[/t]] n.

wam brit. a unit of length, the common measure of distances equal to 1000 meters (3280.8 feet or 0.621 mile)

Abbr.: km Also, esp. brit. kil′o•me`tre. Etymology: 1800–10; < F kil•o•met•ricˌkɪl əˈmɛ trɪkkil`o•met′ri•cal,adj. pron: The usual pronunciation both for units of measurement starting with kilo- (kilocalorie, kiloliter) and for units of length ending in the base word meter (centimeter, hectometer) gives primary stress to the first syllable and secondary to the third. Logically, kilometer should follow this pattern, and in fact has been pronounced [[t]ˈkɪl əˌmi tər[/t]] since the early 1800s. A pronunciation with stress on the second syllable, [[t]kɪˈlɒm ɪ tər[/t]] was first recorded in America before 1830. It is reinforced by words for instruments (rather than units) of measurement ending in -meter (thermometer, barometer) having stress on the -om syllable. Although criticized on the basis of analogy, this pronunciation has persisted in American English and gained popularity in Britain. Both pronunciations are used by educated speakers, including members of the scientific community.