millimetre

UK: ˈmɪlɪmiːtə | US: ˈmɪləmiːtər

Definition

  1. n. a unit of length equal to one thousandth of a metre (0.001 m).

Structure
milli <one thousandth>metre <unit of length>
Etymology

millimetre = milli<one thousandth> + metre<unit of length>

  • milli: From Latin mille ("thousand"), used in the metric system to denote one thousandth (1/1000).
  • metre: From Greek metron ("measure"), adopted into French as mètre and standardized as the base unit of length in the metric system.

Etymology Origin:
The word millimetre combines milli- (a prefix indicating division by 1,000) with metre, reflecting the metric system's decimal logic. Introduced during the French Revolution, the metric system aimed to standardize measurements using Greek and Latin roots. Millimetre thus literally means "one thousandth of a metre," showcasing the system's precision and scalability.

Examples

  1. A paperclip is about one millimetre thick.

  2. The surgeon made an incision just two millimetres long.

  3. Rainfall was measured at 5 millimetres per hour.

  4. The gap between the parts must not exceed 0.1 millimetres.

  5. A human hair averages 0.07 millimetres in diameter.