microgram

¹

[ mahy-kruh-gram ]

noun

1. a unit of mass or weight equal to one millionth of a gram, used chiefly in microchemistry. : μg

microgram

²

[ mahy-kruh-gram ]

noun

1. micrograph ( def 2 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of microgram¹

First recorded in 1885–90; micro- + -gram ²

Origin of microgram²

micro- + -gram ¹

Example Sentences

It’s not so funny, he said, when the currently stockpiled formulation against the H5N1 bird flu virus requires two shots and a whopping 90 micrograms of antigen, yet provides just middling immunity.

From Salon

They found that, under the most severe scenario -- an increase in annual fine particulates of 2.1 micrograms per cubic meter of air -- six additional people would be expected to die each year among this population.

From Science Daily

The vast majority, 84% of Yanomami tested, had contamination equal to or above 2 micrograms per gram, a level of exposure that can lead to several health problems, according to standards by the U.S.

From Seattle Times

In the context of hospitals and ambulances — where fentanyl is safely used every day without incident — the drug is dosed in micrograms, orders of magnitude smaller than the more familiar milligram.

From Salon

According to the W.H.O.’s guidelines, people shouldn’t breathe more than 5 micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter of air, on average, throughout a year.

From New York Times