Metal pitch
Beginner
The spacing between neighboring wires on the lowest wiring layers of a chip.
Novice
The center-to-center distance of the tightest wires, on the first few metal layers. Cell height is usually given as a number of these ‘tracks’.
Expert
Minimum line plus space on the tightest metal layers (M1–M3 in ASAP7, 36 nm with EUV). Cell height = tracks × metal pitch, and the ratio to fin pitch (the ‘gear ratio’) must come out to whole or half numbers. The ‘M’ in G-M-T.
Explained in Shrinking (Transistors).
See also: Contacted poly pitch (CPP, gate pitch), Standard cell.