micron

IPA/ˈmaɪkrɒn/
KK[mˈaɪkrˌɑn]IPA/ˈmaɪkrɑːn/

micron — noun

  • micronsingular
  • micronsplural

1. a very small measure of length used in science and industry; one micron is one m

1.nounC1
Definition

a very small measure of length used in science and industry; one micron is one millionth of one metre

Example

The plastic sheet is only three microns thick, but it still blocks water.

three microns thick

Feng checked whether the air filter could catch dust below five microns.

below five microns

Common collocations
  • particle size in microns
  • five microns wide
  • three microns thick
  • below ten microns
Synonyms
  • micrometre

    the official SI name for the same unit, used especially in careful scientific writing

  • micrometer

    the American spelling of micrometre, though it can also mean a measuring tool in some contexts

Grammar Patterns

three microns thick

below five microns

twenty microns wide

Usage Note

Often used after a number when people describe thickness, width, or particle size. In formal SI writing, micrometre is the preferred term, but micron is still common in technical talk.

Common Mistakes

The wire is one microns thick.
The wire is one micron thick.
Use singular micron after one, and plural microns after larger numbers.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Micron and micrometre refer to the same length, but micrometre is the official SI term and is more common in careful scientific writing. Micrometer is the American spelling of micrometre, although it can also mean a measuring instrument, so micron can sometimes avoid that ambiguity in practical settings. Nanometre names a much smaller unit, so it is used when the scale is finer than a micron. In many factory or filter discussions, people still say microns because it sounds shorter and more familiar.

micrometremicrometernanometre

Common collocations

Nouns

  • particle size in microns
  • layer thickness in microns
  • dust below five microns

Phrases

  • measure it in microns
  • be three microns thick

Prepositions

  • below five microns
  • under ten microns

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Micron comes from Greek mikron, a form of mikros meaning small. English adopted it in scientific use for a very tiny unit of length.