mile
UK: maɪl | US: maɪl
n. a unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards (approximately 1.609 kilometers).
n. (historical) a Roman unit of distance equal to 1,000 paces (about 1,620 yards).
The word "mile" traces back to the Roman mille passus ("a thousand paces"), where one pace equaled two steps. This measurement standardized distance as 1,000 paces (about 1,620 yards). Over time, the definition shifted in England to 1,760 yards, aligning with the modern statute mile. The morpheme mil preserves the Latin root for "thousand," reflecting its historical logic.
The next town is five miles away.
She runs a mile every morning.
The car’s speedometer showed 60 miles per hour.
Ancient Roman roads were marked with mile stones.
A nautical mile differs slightly from a land mile.