Meaning & use
micrometer
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A tool used for measuring very small distances or thicknesses with high accuracy.
Grammar: Countable: a micrometer, two micrometers, etc.
Patterns
- use a micrometer
- measure something with a micrometer
- a micrometer screw gauge
The engineer used a micrometer to check the thickness of the metal sheet.
A micrometer can measure to within a thousandth of a millimeter.
Before you buy the part, measure it with a micrometer to make sure it fits.
nouncountabletechnical
A unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter, also called a micron.
Grammar: Countable: one micrometer, several micrometers.
Patterns
- a micrometer of something
- measure in micrometers
- 10 micrometers long
The bacteria are only about one micrometer in diameter.
Infrared light has a wavelength of several micrometers.
The dust particles are smaller than 10 micrometers, so they can enter the lungs.
Word forms
| plural | micrometers |
|---|
Common combinations
- use a micrometer
- The machinist used a micrometer to measure the wire.
- digital micrometer
- A digital micrometer gives a quick reading on a screen.
- micrometer screw gauge
- The physics lab has a micrometer screw gauge for precise measurements.
- measured in micrometers
- The wavelength is measured in micrometers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- micron
- Micron means the same unit of length, but it is the more common word in everyday and medical contexts.
- micrometer gauge
- Micrometer gauge is a longer name for the measuring tool, used to avoid confusion with the unit.
Word family
- micrometry noun
- The technique of measuring very small distances.
- micrometric adjective
- Relating to measurement with a micrometer.
Commonly confused: micrometer or millimeter? micrometer or microscope?
micrometer vs millimeter
A millimeter is one thousandth of a meter, while a micrometer is one millionth of a meter, so a micrometer is 1000 times smaller.
micrometer vs microscope
A microscope is used to look at very small things, while a micrometer is used to measure them.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'micrometer' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A micrometer is a tiny unit of length (or a tool for small measurements), so a cell being 5 micrometers wide is correct. A football field is too large, a micrometer is not used for looking at stars, and it does not tell time.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “micrometer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.