millimeter

noun

mil·​li·​me·​ter ˈmi-lə-ˌmē-tər How to pronounce millimeter (audio)
variants US millimeter or British millimetre
: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀₀ meter see Metric System Table

Examples of millimeter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But there are titanium skid blocks that poke out a few millimeters from the plank's surface, and these are what make contact with the track surface when a car bottoms out (and before any wear to the plank), giving off a shower of titanium sparks. ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025 Their device, just a few millimeters long, has no wires and needs minimally invasive placement. Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2025 Featuring a disheveled fringe that stops just a few millimeters above the eyebrows, Jane Austen bangs are typically slightly rounded and can be worn either wavy, curly, or straight. Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025 The bridges are only a few millimeters wide, and are hollowed out to save weight. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for millimeter

Word History

Etymology

French millimètre, from milli- + mètre meter

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of millimeter was in 1797

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Millimeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millimeter. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

millimeter

noun
mil·​li·​me·​ter ˈmil-ə-ˌmēt-ər How to pronounce millimeter (audio)
: a measure of length equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ meter see metric system table

Medical Definition

millimeter

noun
mil·​li·​me·​ter
variants or chiefly British millimetre
: one thousandth of a meter
abbreviation mm

More from Merriam-Webster on millimeter

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