The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word METRIC
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
M
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More clues leading to the result METRIC
- Following decimal system satisfied monarch in charge
- Describing system of measurement, writer with short ruse?
- Measurement system encountered resistance with current Celsius
- Encountered core of brick sized in centimetres, perhaps
- System of Imperial succession?
- Content to assume tricolour is not imperial
- There’s a point in this system
- System to help lose pounds and inches?
- Endless deception covered by Imogen in this system
- Alternative to Imperial College opening with exceptional merit
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Describing system of measurement" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case describing system of measurement = metric.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does METRIC mean?
METRIC noun- A measure for something; a means of deriving a quantitative measurement or approximation for otherwise qualitative phenomena (especially used in engineering).
- A function for the measurement of the "distance" between two points in some metric space: it is a real-valued function d(x,y) between points x and y satisfying the following properties: (1) "non-negativity": d(x,y) \ge 0 , (2) "identity of indiscernibles": d(x,y) = 0 \mbox{ iff } x=y , (2) "symmetry": d(x,y) = d(y,x) , and (3) "triangle inequality": d(x,y) \le d(x,z) + d(z,y) .
- A metric tensor.
- (aerospace, systems engineering) To measure or analyse statistical data concerning the quality or effectiveness of a process.
- Of or relating to the metric system of measurement.
- Of or relating to the meter of a piece of music.
- Of or relating to distance.
- The system of measurements developed in France in the 1790s and now used worldwide.
- The modern version of that system, Systeme Internationale d'Unites (International System of Units), or SI system of measurements that is based on the base units of the meter/metre, the kilogram, the second, the ampere, the kelvin, the mole, and the candela.
- Any variant of that system, that was not codified as SI, such as cgs.