milli-

American  

1. a combining form meaning “thousand” (millipede ): in the metric system, used in the names of units equal to one thousandth of the given base unit (millimeter ).

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milli- British  

prefix

1.  m.  denoting 10 ^–3

   millimetre

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milli– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means “one thousandth,” as in millimeter, one thousandth of a meter.

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Usage

What does milli- mean? Milli- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “thousand.” In names of units of measure, particularly in the metric system, milli- means "one thousandth." It is often used in scientific and technical terms.Milli- comes from the Latin mille, meaning “thousand.” The Greek translation of mille is chī́lioi, “a thousand,” which is the source of English terms such as kilogram and kilometer. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

Etymology

Origin of milli-

< French < Latin, combining form of mille thousand

Example Sentences

At 10.59 a.m. the blood-pressure was found to be 125 milli- metres; at 10.42 it had been reduced to 99 millimetres—by what means we are not informed.

From An Ethical Problem Or, Sidelights upon Scientific Experimentation on Man and Animals by Leffingwell, Albert

For 1-10, 1-100 and 1-1,000 of the units, the prefixes deci-, centi- and milli- are used.

From The Style Book of The Detroit News by News, The Detroit