Pronunciation: [ˌɛmsˌiːd͡ʒˈiː] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "mcg" can be confusing since it is an abbreviation for the unit of measurement "microgram". The correct way to spell it out is "microgram", but in medical contexts, "mcg" is widely used. The IPA phonetic transcription for "mcg" is /ˈmaɪkrəʊɡræm/ which is pronounced as "my-croh-gram". It’s important to pay attention to the context in which the word is used to ensure it is read and understood correctly.
mcg: noun
Definition:
1. An abbreviation for microgram, a unit of measurement in the International System of Units (SI) that denotes one-millionth of a gram. It is represented by the symbol μg.
2. A common metric measurement used to express extremely small quantities, particularly in the fields of pharmacology, medicine, and chemistry. The use of micrograms allows for precise dosage calculations and the presentation of precise scientific results.
3. The microgram is derived from the Greek word "mikros" meaning small and "gramma" meaning weight or unit of measurement. As a subunit of the gram, the microgram is a minute weight measure in comparison.
Example sentences:
- "The medication should be administered in a dosage of 5 mcg per day to achieve the desired effect."
- "The laboratory analysis found traces of the substance at the level of 0.2 mcg per milliliter of blood."
- "To accurately measure the active ingredient, the pharmaceutical company uses a state-of-the-art scale that can detect amounts down to the mcg level."
Synonyms: microgram, μg
Note: The microgram (mcg) should not be confused with the milligram (mg), which is one-thousandth of a gram. The microgram (mcg) is one thousand times smaller than the milligram (mg). The symbol μg is preferred in scientific literature to represent the microgram to avoid confusion.
The abbreviation "mcg" stands for microgram, which is a unit of measurement in the metric system used to denote one millionth of a gram. The term "microgram" comes from the Greek roots "micro", meaning very small, and "gramma", meaning weight. Therefore, the etymology of "mcg" can be traced back to the Greek language, representing a small weight measurement.
