English Reference

Word

micron

Phoneticsmi·cron

US/ˈmaɪˌkɹɑn/

UK/mˈaɪkɹɒn/

Definition

n. a very small unit of length, equal to one millionth of a meter. It is often used to describe the size of tiny things like dust, hair, or electronic parts.

n. a metric unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter (10^-6 m). Often used in technical contexts to describe the diameter of particles, the thickness of materials, or the resolution of optical instruments.

Examples

“The filter can trap particles as small as one micron.”

“The manufacturer specifies that the screen should have a resolution of at least 100 pixels per micron to ensure sharp images.”

“In semiconductor manufacturing, the ability to etch features at the sub-micron scale is essential for producing the increasingly powerful microprocessors that power modern computers.”

Examples

simple

“The filter can trap particles as small as one micron.”

contextual

“The manufacturer specifies that the screen should have a resolution of at least 100 pixels per micron to ensure sharp images.”

complex

“In semiconductor manufacturing, the ability to etch features at the sub-micron scale is essential for producing the increasingly powerful microprocessors that power modern computers.”

Real-World Examples

“In more open areas around the brain, including the space near the surface between the skull and the brain, the water-like fluid travels at a few microns per second.”
ScienceDaily · 13 Aug 2026

Etymology

From French micron, from Ancient Greek μικρόν (mikrón), neuter of μικρός (mikrós, “small”).

From Ancient Greek μικρόν (mikrón), neuter of μικρός (mikrós, “small”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domains

LinguisticsPhysics

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference