The term METRIC BEGINNING can be broken down into three separate words: BARO (4 letters), ECONO (5 letters), and ISO (3 letters). BARO is an abbreviation for barometer, which is a device used to measure atmospheric pressure. ECONO is an abbreviation for economy, which is the system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. ISO is an abbreviation for International Organization for Standardization, which is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.