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
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
Hyphae are often barely five micrometers wide — about one-tenth the width of a human hair and much narrower than a plant’s root tip.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for micrometer
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.
Noun
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
Hyphae are often barely five micrometers wide — about one-tenth the width of a human hair and much narrower than a plant’s root tip.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 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 29 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
