Definition of millisecond
: one thousandth of a second
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of millisecond from the Web
-
The wave hit Washington about 3 milliseconds before Louisiana.
-
The duration of each sound is listed in milliseconds.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'millisecond'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
A millisecond isn't long enough for the blink of an eye, but a few milliseconds may determine the winner of a swim race or a hundred-yard dash. With the ever-increasing speed of modern technology, even a millisecond has started to seem a little sluggish; computer operations are now measured in nanoseconds—that is, billionths of a second.
Origin and Etymology of millisecond
International Scientific Vocabulary
MILLISECOND Defined for English Language Learners
millisecond
playDefinition of millisecond for English Language Learners
-
: one thousandth of a second
Medical Dictionary
millisecond
playMedical Definition of millisecond
: one thousandth of a second—abbreviation ms, msec
Learn More about millisecond
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up millisecond? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!