Milli-

Unit system
Unit of
Symbol	m
Named after

The milli- (symbol m) is a unit prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of one thousandth (10^-3) of the base unit. It is used in the International System of Units (SI) and is one of the most commonly used prefixes in scientific and technical fields.

History

The prefix milli- was adopted in 1795, derived from the Latin word "mille," meaning "thousand." It was introduced as part of the metric system, which was developed in France during the late 18th century. The metric system was designed to be a universal and standardized system of measurement based on the decimal system.

Usage

The milli- prefix is widely used in various scientific and engineering disciplines. It is applied to a variety of units to indicate a thousandth of the base unit. Some common examples include:

• Millimeter (mm) - A unit of length equal to one thousandth of a meter.
• Milliliter (mL) - A unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter.
• Milligram (mg) - A unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a gram.
• Milliampere (mA) - A unit of electric current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.

Applications

The milli- prefix is particularly useful in fields where precise measurements are required. For example, in medicine, dosages of medications are often measured in milligrams to ensure accuracy and safety. In engineering, components such as resistors and capacitors may be specified in milliohms or millifarads, respectively, to achieve the desired electrical characteristics.

Conversion

To convert a measurement from a base unit to a milli- unit, multiply the base unit by 10^-3. Conversely, to convert from a milli- unit to a base unit, multiply by 10³.

Examples

• 1 meter = 1000 millimeters
• 1 liter = 1000 milliliters
• 1 gram = 1000 milligrams
• 1 ampere = 1000 milliamperes

Also see

• Metric system
• International System of Units
• Centi-
• Micro-
• Nano-