sievert

American  

[see-vert] / ˈsi vərt /

noun

Physics.

1. the standard unit in the International System of Units (SI) of dose equivalent having the same biological effect as one joule of x-rays per kilogram of recipient mass (or one gray): Sv

   The average person receives about 2 to 3 one-thousandths of a sievert per year from naturally occurring radiation in the environment.

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sievert British  

/ ˈsiːvət /

noun

1.  Sv.  the derived SI unit of dose equivalent, equal to 1 joule per kilogram. 1 sievert is equivalent to 100 rems

2. (formerly) a unit of gamma radiation dose approximately equal to 8.4 × 10 ^–2 gray

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sievert Scientific  

/ sē′vərt /

1. The SI derived unit used to measure the amount of radiation necessary to produce the same effect on living tissue as one gray of high-penetration x-rays. The sievert is named after Swedish physicist Rolf Sievert (1896–1966).

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Etymology

Origin of sievert

Named in honor of Swedish radiologist Rolf Maximilian Sievert (1896–1966)

Example Sentences

The standard measure of the biological effect of radiation is the sievert.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2014

It usually only occurs when someone has been exposed to about one sievert of radiation over a relatively short period of time.

From Scientific American • Mar. 2, 2012

“Workers can’t work near water with radiation levels exceeding 1 sievert per hour, at least not within a few meters,” said Hironobu Unesaki, a professor at Kyoto University’s Research Reactor Institute.

From BusinessWeek • Mar. 31, 2011

Estimated cancer risk from radiation is assumed to be 4% per sievert, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2011

When I am standing right in front of the sarcophagus, the readings leap up to 0.12 thousandths of a sievert per hour, or 1,200 times that seen in Kiev.

From Scientific American • Mar. 15, 2011