1. A unit of length equal to one tenth of a meter, or 10 centimeters.
Usage: Also spelled decimeter in U.S. English.; Metric system unit commonly used in scientific and educational contexts.

Examples

• The ruler measures 3 decimetres in length.
• A decimetre is equal to 100 millimetres.
• The fabric was cut into strips of 2 decimetres each.
• In the metric system, a decimetre falls between a centimetre and a metre.
• The height of the small plant was approximately 5 decimetres.