meter-candle-second: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHighly Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “meter-candle-second” mean?
A unit of measurement for luminous energy, specifically the quantity of light received per unit area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of measurement for luminous energy, specifically the quantity of light received per unit area.
A technical photometric unit equivalent to the illumination of one lumen per square meter sustained for one second. It is a measure of exposure in fields like photography and photometry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary difference is the spelling of 'meter' (US) vs. 'metre' (UK) for the unit of length. The full term would be 'metre-candle-second' in UK English. The term 'candle' as a photometric unit is largely historical and standardized internationally.
Connotations
No difference in connotation. It is a purely technical, neutral term in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to specialized scientific and engineering texts. The SI unit 'lux second' is more common in modern usage.
Grammar
How to Use “meter-candle-second” in a Sentence
[Number] meter-candle-second(s)an exposure of [Number] meter-candle-secondsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meter-candle-second” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The metre-candle-second value was recorded.
- A high metre-candle-second exposure.
American English
- The meter-candle-second reading was taken.
- A low meter-candle-second output.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in specialized physics, optical engineering, and photography research papers discussing photometric measurements.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Primary domain. Used in technical specifications for light sensors, photographic film sensitivity (historical), and photometric calibration.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meter-candle-second”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meter-candle-second”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meter-candle-second”
- Treating it as three separate words in a sentence (e.g., 'a meter, candle, and second').
- Using 'meter-candle-second' as an adjective without hyphens.
- Confusing it with 'foot-candle-second' (imperial unit).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a largely historical or highly specialized unit. The SI unit 'lux second' (lx·s) is the modern preferred term for luminous exposure.
It refers to the 'candela', the SI base unit for luminous intensity. A 'meter-candle' is an older name for a lux, which is one lumen per square metre.
Absolutely not. It is exclusively a technical term. In everyday contexts, people talk about light in terms of brightness, dimness, or lumens.
They measure the same thing (luminous exposure) but use different units of area. Meter-candle-second uses square metres, while foot-candle-second uses square feet. 1 meter-candle-second ≈ 0.0929 foot-candle-seconds.
A unit of measurement for luminous energy, specifically the quantity of light received per unit area.
Meter-candle-second is usually highly technical / scientific in register.
Meter-candle-second: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːtə ˌkændl ˈsɛkənd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiːtɚ ˌkændl ˈsɛkənd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a METER stick next to a CANDLE for one SECOND to measure how much light falls on the stick in that time.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIGHT IS A QUANTIFIABLE SUBSTANCE / EXPOSURE IS ACCUMULATION.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'meter-candle-second' a unit of?