Meaning & use
decilitre
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one tenth of a liter, or 100 milliliters.
Grammar: Has a plural: two decilitres of milk. Often abbreviated dl.
Patterns
- a decilitre of something
The recipe asks for two decilitres of cream.
A decilitre of water weighs about one hundred grams.
The doctor noted the amount of glucose in one decilitre of blood.
Word forms
| plural | decilitres |
|---|---|
| American spelling | deciliter |
Common combinations
- a decilitre of milk
- Add a decilitre of milk and stir.
- per decilitre
- The result is shown in milligrams per decilitre.
- measure a decilitre
- Use a small jug to measure a decilitre.
- half a decilitre
- Half a decilitre of oil is plenty.
- three decilitres
- Pour three decilitres of stock into the pan.
Synonyms and how they differ
- 100 milliliters
- This says the same amount in a unit more people know, but it is longer to write.
- dl
- Dl is the symbol, used in recipes and tables rather than in full sentences.
Word family
Commonly confused: decilitre or decagram?
decilitre vs decagram
Decagram is a weight unit meaning ten grams. A decilitre measures volume and is a tenth of a litre.
Practice
A recipe calls for one decilitre of oil. How much is that?
Choose one answer.
Deci- means one tenth, so a decilitre is one tenth of a liter, which is 100 milliliters. 10 milliliters is a centilitre, a tempting error.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “decilitre”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.