stere, metric unit of volume equal to one cubicmetre, or 1,000 litres. The stere (from Greekstereos, “solid”) was originally defined by law and used inFrance in 1793, primarily as a measure for firewood. It is thus the metric counterpart of thecord, one standard cord (128 cubicfeet of stacked wood) being equal to 3.625 steres. A stere is made up of 10 decisteres, and 100 steres make up a hectostere. Very large volumes may be expressed in kilosteres, equal to 1,000 steres.