millilitre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, but most common in scientific, technical, medical, and culinary contexts.
Quick answer
What does “millilitre” mean?
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one thousandth of a litre.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one thousandth of a litre.
In scientific, medical, and cooking contexts, a precise measurement of liquid capacity; figuratively used to indicate a very small amount of liquid.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK 'millilitre', US 'milliliter'. Pronunciation may differ slightly (see IPA). The US uses both metric and US customary units, making 'millilitre' slightly more technical there, while the UK, being officially metricated, uses it in all official contexts (e.g., product labelling).
Connotations
The spelling difference is purely orthographic with no significant connotative difference. The US 'milliliter' follows the US preference for '-er' over '-re'.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to exclusive use of metric units for volume in official and retail contexts. In US English, teaspoons, tablespoons, fluid ounces, and cups are more common in everyday cooking, making 'millilitre' more frequent in scientific/medical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “millilitre” in a Sentence
NUMBER + millilitre(s) + of + LIQUID/SUBSTANCEa millilitre + VERB (e.g., contains, equals)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “millilitre” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The recipe says to millilitre it out precisely.
- You can't just pour, you need to millilitre the syrup.
American English
- The protocol requires you to milliliter the reagent.
- She carefully millilitred the medication into the cup.
adverb
British English
- Add the vanilla extract millilitre by millilitre.
- Dispense it millilitre-wise.
American English
- The solution was added milliliter by milliliter.
- Measure it out milliliter-carefully.
adjective
British English
- Use a millilitre measure for accuracy.
- The millilitre quantity is critical.
American English
- A milliliter measurement is standard in labs.
- Check the milliliter amount on the syringe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in product specifications (e.g., 'Bottle contains 330 millilitres').
Academic
Standard unit in scientific reports, chemistry, biology, and medicine for measuring volumes.
Everyday
Common on beverage labels, medicine dosages, and cooking recipes in metric-using countries.
Technical
Precise measurement in laboratories (e.g., 'Pipette 2.5 millilitres of the solution').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “millilitre”
- Misspelling as 'mililitre' (single 'l'), 'milliliter' in UK contexts, or 'milimeter' (confusing with length).
- Incorrect plural form: 'millilitres' is standard, not 'millilitre' for plural.
- Using 'mil' ambiguously (could mean millimetre or millilitre in casual speech).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for all practical purposes, 1 millilitre (ml) is exactly equal to 1 cubic centimetre (cc or cm³). This is true for water and most liquids at standard conditions.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Millilitre' is the UK/International English spelling, while 'milliliter' is the preferred US English spelling. Both are pronounced similarly.
The standard abbreviations are 'ml' or 'mL'. The capital 'L' in 'mL' is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the number one (1) in certain fonts.
In informal UK, Australian, and New Zealand English, 'mil' is commonly used in speech (e.g., 'a 300-mil bottle'). However, it is ambiguous as 'mil' can also informally mean millimetre, so it's avoided in technical writing.
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one thousandth of a litre.
Millilitre is usually neutral, but most common in scientific, technical, medical, and culinary contexts. in register.
Millilitre: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪˌliːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪˌliːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not a millilitre to spare”
- “Down to the last millilitre”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'MILLI-LITRE' as a 'tiny/thousandth part of a LITRE', like a millipede has a thousand legs.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS SMALLNESS; SCIENCE IS MEASUREMENT.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct synonym for 'millilitre' in a medical context?