Main Entry: mile

Pronunciation: \ˈmī(-ə)l\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand

Date: before 12th century

1 : any of various units of distance: as a : a unit equal to 5280 feet — see weight table b : nautical mile
2 : a race of a mile
3 : a relatively great distance, degree, or interval —used chiefly adverbially in plural <was miles ahead of them in education>

— a mile a minute : with great speed <talking a mile a minute>