Illustration of micrometer
- micrometer 2
mi·crom·e·ter
mī-ˈkrä-mə-tər 
1
: an instrument used with a telescope or microscope for measuring minute distances
2
: a caliper for making precise measurements that has a spindle moved by a finely threaded screw
mi·cro·me·ter
ˈmī-krō-ˌmē-tər
: a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter
called also micron
see Metric System TableExamples of micrometer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
These microscopic particles are about 30 times smaller than a human hair, measuring just 2 micrometers wide.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
While mapping the elemental iron in the fossil, the synchrotron X-rays penetrated just 30 micrometers into the siderite matrix, but that was enough to reveal a previously undetected structure.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
The chip projected a roughly 125-micrometer image of the Mona Lisa.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for micrometer
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Noun
Microplastics are tiny fragments, that can be as small as 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer) and are a pernicious part of the plastic pollution crisis.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
These microscopic particles are about 30 times smaller than a human hair, measuring just 2 micrometers wide.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
While mapping the elemental iron in the fossil, the synchrotron X-rays penetrated just 30 micrometers into the siderite matrix, but that was enough to reveal a previously undetected structure.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
The chip projected a roughly 125-micrometer image of the Mona Lisa.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for micrometer
Cite this Entry
“Micrometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/micrometer. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
micrometer
1 of 2 noun
mi·crom·e·ter
mī-ˈkräm-ət-ər
1
: an instrument used with a telescope or microscope for measuring very small distances
micrometry
noun
-ˈkräm-ə-trē
micrometer
2 of 2 noun
mi·cro·me·ter
ˈmī-krō-ˌmēt-ər
: a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter
Medical Definition
micrometer
1 of 2 noun
mi·crom·e·ter
mī-ˈkräm-ət-ər
: an instrument used with a telescope or microscope for measuring minute distances
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
