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Micro (µ) Unit Definition
Micro is a SI unit prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of 10-6 (one millionth). It is represented by the prefix micro or the symbol µ.
Overview
Confirmed in 1960, the prefix comes from the Greek term mikrós (μικρός), meaning small. The symbol for the prefix comes from the letter Mu (Μ, μ) in the Greek alphabet. It is the only SI prefix which uses a character not from the Latin alphabet. mc is commonly used as a prefix when the character μ is not available. For instance, mcg commonly denotes a microgram. Also, the letter u instead of µ is sometimes an appropriate replacement.
Examples
Typical bacteria are 1 to 10 micrometers (μm) in diameter.
Eukaryotic cells are typically 10 to 100 micrometers (μm) in diameter.
1 second = 1000000 microseconds (μs)
SI Prefixes
Here is a table of the SI prefixes and some of their properties:
Name & Symbol |
Base 10 |
Decimal |
English Word |
Adoption |
|
Short Scale |
Long Scale |
||||
Quetta (Q) | 1030 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Nonillion |
Quintillion |
2022 |
Ronna (R) | 1027 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Octillion |
2022 |
|
Yotta (Y) | 1024 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Septillion |
Quadrillion |
1991 |
Zetta (Z) | 1021 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Sextillion |
Trilliard |
1991 |
Exa (E) | 1018 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Quintillion |
Trillion |
1975 |
Peta (P) | 1015 |
1,000,000,000,000,000 |
Quadrillion |
Billiard |
1975 |
Tera (T) | 1012 |
1,000,000,000,000 |
Trillion |
Billion |
1960 |
Giga (G) | 109 |
1,000,000,000 |
Billion |
Milliard |
1960 |
Mega (M) | 106 |
1,000,000 |
Million |
1873 |
|
Kilo (k) | 103 |
1,000 |
Thousand |
1795 |
|
Hecto (h) | 102 |
100 |
Hundred |
1795 |
|
Deca (da) | 101 |
10 |
Ten |
1795 |
|
One (1) | 100 |
1 |
One |
- |
|
Deci (d) | 10-1 |
0.1 |
Tenth |
1795 |
|
Centi (c) | 10-2 |
0.01 |
Hundredth |
1795 |
|
Milli (m) | 10-3 |
0.001 |
Thousandth |
1795 |
|
Micro (µ) | 10-6 |
0.000001 |
Millionth |
1873 |
|
Nano (n) | 10-9 |
0.000000001 |
Billionth |
Milliardth |
1960 |
Pico (p) | 10-12 |
0.000000000001 |
Trillionth |
Billionth |
1960 |
Femto (f) | 10-15 |
0.000000000000001 |
Quadrillionth |
Billiardth |
1964 |
Atto (a) | 10-18 |
0.000000000000000001 |
Quintillionth |
Trillionth |
1964 |
Zepto (z) | 10-21 |
0.000000000000000000001 |
Sextillionth |
Trilliardth |
1991 |
Yocto (y) | 10-24 |
0.000000000000000000000001 |
Septillionth |
Quadrillionth |
1991 |
Ronto (r) | 10-27 |
0.000000000000000000000000001 |
Octillionth |
2022 |
|
Quecto (q) | 10-30 |
0.000000000000000000000000000001 |
Nonillionth |
Quintillionth |
2022 |
Other Prefix Unit Definitions
- Atto (a)
- Centi (c)
- Deca (da)
- Deci (d)
- Deka (da)
- Exa (E)
- Exbi (Ei)
- Femto (f)
- Gibi (Gi)
- Giga (G)
- Hecto (h)
- Kibi (Ki)
- Kilo (k)
- Mebi (Mi)
- Mega (M)
- Micro (µ)
- Milli (m)
- Nano (n)
- One (1)
- Pebi (Pi)
- Peta (P)
- Pico (p)
- Qubi (Qi)
- Quecto (q)
- Quetta (Q)
- Robi (Ri)
- Ronna (R)
- Ronto (r)
- Tebi (Ti)
- Tera (T)
- Yobi (Yi)
- Yocto (y)
- Yotta (Y)
- Zebi (Zi)
- Zepto (z)
- Zetta (Z)
Convert to Another Prefix Unit
Related Definitions
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Sources
“Micro-.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Mar. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-.