MICROLITER Meaning and
Definition
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A microliter is a unit of volume commonly used in scientific and medical fields. It is a metric unit of measurement equal to one millionth of a liter, abbreviated as μL or µL. The term "micro" refers to one millionth, and "liter" is the base unit for volume in the metric system.
In practical terms, a microliter is incredibly small, as one liter contains one million microliters. To put it in perspective, a microliter can be compared to a cube with sides measuring approximately 0.1 centimeters, or a droplet so small that it is barely visible to the naked eye.
Microliters are employed when dealing with small quantities of fluids or substances, such as samples in a laboratory or medical testing. They are commonly used in the measurement of blood, DNA samples, chemical reagents, and pharmaceutical preparations.
The use of microliters is preferred due to their precision and accuracy in measuring tiny volumes. This small unit of measurement allows for more precise and reliable results in various analytical processes. Whether in research, diagnostics, or quality control, the microliter provides scientists, researchers, and medical professionals with a standardized unit for quantifying small quantities, enabling them to perform precise calculations and comparisons.
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The millionth part of a liter, about 1/70 drop.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MICROLITER
Etymology of MICROLITER
The word "microliter" originated from the combination of two components: "micro" and "liter".
The prefix "micro" comes from the Greek word "mikros", meaning small or minute. It is commonly used as a prefix to indicate a factor of one millionth (10^-6) in the International System of Units (SI). For example, a micrometer represents one millionth of a meter.
The term "liter" stems from the French word "litre", which was derived from the Latin word "litra" meaning a pound or weight. The liter is a unit of volume measurement in the metric system, equal to one cubic decimeter or 0.001 cubic meters. It is widely used globally as a unit for measuring liquids.
