Definition

A very small unit of measurement that is equal to one millionth of a meter.

Example

The thickness of a human hair is about 70 microns.

Conversation

Did you know that a micron is one millionth of a meter?

Really? That’s incredibly small!

Yeah, it's often used in science to measure tiny things like bacteria.

I guess that makes sense; I never thought about how small a micron actually is!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Micron is derived from the Greek word "mikros" (meaning small). The suffix "-on" is often used in scientific terminology to denote a unit or particle. Therefore, micron refers to a small unit of measurement, specifically one millionth of a meter.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for small, 'mikros', to remember that a micron is a very tiny unit of measurement.

Visually Confused Words