Definition:Metric System/Length/Micrometre

Micrometre

The micrometre is a metric unit of length.

Conversion Factors

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

micrometre

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 10^{-3}\)

millimetre

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 10^{-6}\)

metres

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 39 \cdotp 3708\)

microinches

Symbol

$\mu \mathrm m$

The symbol for the micrometre is $\mu \mathrm m$.

$\mu$ for micro

$\mathrm m$ for metre.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is \mu \mathrm m .

Also known as

A former name for the micrometre is the micron.

Linguistic Note

The spelling micrometre is the one adopted by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Micrometer is the variant used in standard American English.

See the linguistic note on metre.

Beware that the word micrometer is also used for a tool of a specific design for accurate measurements of small lengths (up to a few centimetres).

Sources

• 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1.$ Units and Abbreviations: $1.3$ British and other units
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): micron
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): micron