millikan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Proper noun, highly specialized)Academic/Scientific/Historical
Quick answer
What does “millikan” mean?
A surname, famously associated with Robert A. Millikan, the American experimental physicist who measured the charge of the electron and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surname, famously associated with Robert A. Millikan, the American experimental physicist who measured the charge of the electron and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.
In scientific contexts, often used to refer to the 'Millikan oil-drop experiment' or the unit 'millikan' (non-standard) for electric charge, equal to the charge of a single electron. Can also refer to institutions, awards, or places named after him.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The name and its scientific references are international. Pronunciation differences follow general AmE/BrE patterns.
Connotations
Connotes precision experimental physics, foundational work in quantum theory and electrochemistry.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to physics education, history of science, and technical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “millikan” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] (e.g., Millikan demonstrated...)[Noun Modifier] + experiment/award/lecture (e.g., the Millikan lecture)[Possessive] + work (e.g., Millikan's pioneering work)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “millikan” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Millikan technique requires great patience.
- She received the Millikan Fellowship.
American English
- They used a Millikan-style apparatus.
- He is a Millikan scholar at the university.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Primary context. Used in physics textbooks, history of science papers, and lectures to describe his experiment or contributions.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used when discussing the fundamental charge (e = 1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs) or experimental methods in physics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “millikan”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “millikan”
- Misspelling as 'Millikan' or 'Milliken'.
- Using it as a standard unit (e.g., '5 millikans') in formal writing.
- Confusing Robert Millikan with his son or other scientists.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The standard unit of electric charge is the coulomb. 'Millikan' is sometimes used informally to mean one elementary charge (e), but it is not an SI unit.
Historical analysis suggests Millikan may have been selective in publishing only his best oil-drop data, though his final calculated value for the electron's charge was remarkably accurate.
Yes. Examples include the Millikan Library at Caltech, the Robert A. Millikan Award (for physics education), and lunar crater Millikan.
Rarely and informally, typically only in educational or historical physics contexts (e.g., 'Let's call the fundamental charge one millikan'). In formal writing, use 'elementary charge' or 'charge of the electron'.
A surname, famously associated with Robert A. Millikan, the American experimental physicist who measured the charge of the electron and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.
Millikan is usually academic/scientific/historical in register.
Millikan: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪkən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪkən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MILLI' (thousandth) + 'CAN' (ability). He found he *could* measure a tiny 'milli'-fraction of electric charge.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NAME FOR PRECISION (Millikan represents the pinnacle of careful, quantitative experimental science).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'millikan' in informal scientific slang?