milliampere: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “milliampere” mean?
A unit of electric current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of electric current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.
A precise measurement used in electrical engineering and electronics to describe small currents, often in circuits involving sensors, low-power devices, or medical equipment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The abbreviation 'mA' is universal.
Connotations
None beyond its technical precision.
Frequency
Identically low frequency in both dialects, confined to technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “milliampere” in a Sentence
[number] milliampere(s)[number] mAa current of [number] milliamperesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “milliampere” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The milliampere reading was stable.
- Check the milliampere output on the meter.
American English
- The milliampere reading was stable.
- Check the milliampere output on the meter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in procurement for electronic components.
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, and electronics textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in circuit design, sensor specifications, battery datasheets, and safety standards.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “milliampere”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “milliampere”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “milliampere”
- Misspelling as 'milliamphere' or 'miliampere'.
- Confusing it with 'millivolt' (a unit of voltage, not current).
- Pronouncing the final syllable as 'peer' in British English (it's 'pear').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard abbreviation is 'mA'.
No, it is a highly technical term used almost exclusively in electronics, engineering, and related scientific fields.
There are 1,000 milliamperes in one ampere.
Yes, the standard plural is 'milliamperes', though in technical shorthand you might see '10 mA' (which is read as 'ten milliamps').
A unit of electric current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.
Milliampere is usually technical in register.
Milliampere: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪl.iˈæm.peər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪl.iˈæm.pɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable. No idioms exist for this technical unit.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MILLIon grains of sand, but here it's a MILLIth of an AMPERE – a much smaller unit for electric current.
Conceptual Metaphor
Quantified flow. Electricity is metaphorically a fluid (current), and a milliampere is a small, measured amount of that flow.
Practice
Quiz
What does the prefix 'milli-' in 'milliampere' signify?