Meaning & use

micrometer

noun·Advanced

A precision instrument used to measure very small distances or thicknesses.

See it in a sentence

The machinist used a micrometer to check the exact diameter of the bolt.

A good micrometer can detect differences smaller than a hundredth of a millimeter.

A note on using this word

Micrometer can also mean one millionth of a meter, a unit more commonly called a micron.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. noun

A unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter, also called a micron.

Bacteria are typically measured in micrometers rather than in millimeters or centimeters.

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