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• rem
  rem

  noun

  the quantity of ionizing radiation whose biological effect is equal to that produced by one roentgen of x-rays.
• REM
  REM

  noun

  rapid eye movement.

rem

¹ American  

[rem] / rɛm /

noun

Nucleonics.

1. the quantity of ionizing radiation whose biological effect is equal to that produced by one roentgen of x-rays.

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REM ² American  

[rem] / rɛm /

noun

1. rapid eye movement.

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REM ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. rapid eye movement

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REM ² British  

/ rɛm /

acronym

1. roentgen equivalent man

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rem Scientific  

/ rĕm /

1. The amount of ionizing radiation required to produce the same biological effect as one rad of high-penetration x-rays. The rem has been replaced in most scientific contexts by the sievert.

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rem Cultural  

1. An acronym for r oentgen e quivalent m an. A unit of absorbed doses of radiation.

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Discover More

A normal medical x-ray delivers about 0.02 rem; a fatal dose of radiation is several thousand rem.

Etymology

Origin of rem¹

1945–50; r(oentgen) e(quivalent in) m(an)

Origin of REM²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

It gave them a dose of 0.31 rem — a very small dose too low to qualify veterans for department benefits.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2016

The legal limit for radiation exposure in the workplace is 5 rem per year.

From Slate • Dec. 11, 2015

For example, 1 rad of γ radiation is also 1 rem.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

I wouldn’t dream of doing something as stupid as leaving my home and ruining my life by becoming a refugee for 5 rem per year, let alone 2 rem.

From Forbes • May 19, 2013

Herbor went among them and asked his question, and the question was, How long will Ashe Berosty rem ir lpe live?

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin