micron

[mahy-kron] /ˈmaɪ krɒn/
noun, plural microns, micra
[mahy-kruh] /ˈmaɪ krə/ (Show IPA)
1.
Also called micrometer. the millionth part of a meter. Symbol: μ, mu.
2.
Physical Chemistry. a colloidal particle whose diameter is between 0.2 and 10 microns.
3.
Physics. a very small unit of pressure, equal to that exerted by a column of mercury 1μ high.
Also, mikron.
Origin
1880-85; < Greek mīkrón a little, noun use of neuter singular of mīkrós small; see -on1
Examples from the web for micron
  • But the micron-sized particles from the volcano's mouth did not fall back at all.
British Dictionary definitions for micron

micron

/ˈmaɪkrɒn/
noun (pl) -crons, -cra (-krə)
1.
a unit of length equal to 10–6 metre. It is being replaced by the micrometre, the equivalent SI unit
Word Origin
C19: New Latin, from Greek mikros small
Word Origin and History for micron
n.

"one millionth of a meter," 1892, coined 1880 in French from Greek mikron, neuter of mikros "small" (see mica).

micron in Medicine

micron mi·cron or mi·kron (mī'krŏn')
n. pl. mi·crons or mi·cra (-krə) or mi·krons or mi·kra (-krə)

Abbr. μm See micrometer.

micron in Science
micron
  (mī'krŏn')   
See micrometer2.
micron in Technology
Encyclopedia Article for micron

metric unit of measure for length equal to 0.00l mm, or about 0.000039 inch. Its symbol is mum. The micrometre is commonly employed to measure the thickness or diameter of microscopic objects, such as microorganisms and colloidal particles. Minute distances, as, for example, the wavelengths of infrared radiation, are also given in micrometres.

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