micrometer

¹ American  

[mahy-krom-i-ter] / maɪˈkrɒm ɪ tər /

especially British, micrometre

noun

1. any of various devices for measuring minute distances, angles, etc., as in connection with a telescope or microscope.

2. Also called micrometer caliper.  Also called mike.  a precision instrument with a spindle moved by a finely threaded screw, for the measurement of thicknesses and short lengths, commonly used by machinists for turning shafts or boring holes.

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micrometer ² American  

[mahy-kroh-mee-ter] / ˈmaɪ kroʊˌmi tər /

noun

1. micron.

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micrometer British  

/ maɪˈkrɒmɪtə, ˌmaɪkrəʊˈmɛtrɪk /

noun

1. any of various instruments or devices for the accurate measurement of distances or angles

2. Also called: micrometer gauge.   micrometer calliper.  a type of gauge for the accurate measurement of small distances, thicknesses, diameters, etc. The gap between its measuring faces is adjusted by a fine screw, the rotation of the screw giving a sensitive measure of the distance moved by the face

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micrometer ¹ Scientific  

/ mī′krō-mē′tər /

1. A unit of length in the metric system equal to one millionth (10 ^{- 6}) of a meter.

2. Also called micron

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micrometer ² Scientific  

/ mī-krŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. A device for measuring very small distances, angles, or objects, especially one based on the rotation of a finely threaded screw, as in relation to a microscope.

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Other Word Forms

• micrometric adjective
• micrometry noun

Etymology

Origin of micrometer¹

First recorded in 1660–70; micro- + -meter

Origin of micrometer²

micro- + meter ¹

Example Sentences

Each sample was carefully filtered to remove anything larger than one micrometer.

From Science Daily

The researchers had been experimenting with especially small magnetic disks, shrinking them from several micrometers down to just a few hundred nanometers.

From Science Daily

The resulting Antscan models reveal internal details such as muscles, nervous systems, digestive organs, and stingers with micrometer level resolution.

From Science Daily

"They are usually bulky, but the magnonic system we studied could allow microwave devices to be miniaturized to the micrometer scale."

From Science Daily

To confirm that the tiny ferromagnet, which measures only a few micrometers across, had truly reversed its polarity, the team shone a second, weaker laser beam onto it.

From Science Daily