millisecond
B2Technical / Formal
Definition
Meaning
One thousandth (1/1000) of a second; a very brief unit of time measurement.
Used figuratively to describe an extremely short, almost instantaneous moment or a very high-speed interval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). While a literal time measurement, it is often used outside strict technical contexts to emphasise extreme brevity or speed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling; abbreviation often 'ms' in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral scientific/technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media related to technology and computing, but broadly comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[number] + millisecond(s)a + [adjective] + millisecondin/within + [possessive] + millisecond(s)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the blink of an eye (figurative, not a direct idiom for millisecond)”
- “In a millisecond (figurative intensifier)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in tech industries to describe processing speeds, transaction times, or network latency.
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, computer science, neuroscience (e.g., neural response times), and sports science.
Everyday
Used to describe very fast reactions or short waits, e.g., 'The download finished in milliseconds.'
Technical
Precise measurement in computing (refresh rates), electronics, astronomy, and high-speed photography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- millisecond precision
- a millisecond delay
American English
- millisecond accuracy
- millisecond timing
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A blink lasts about 300 milliseconds.
- The computer is very fast; it works in milliseconds.
- The athlete's reaction time was just 120 milliseconds.
- We need to measure the interval in milliseconds.
- The system's latency must be reduced to a few milliseconds for optimal performance.
- She hesitated for a fraction of a millisecond before answering.
- Quantum operations occur on timescales of mere milliseconds, necessitating extraordinary measurement techniques.
- The discrepancy, though only a few milliseconds, caused a cascading failure in the network protocol.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'milli-' as in 'millimetre' (a thousandth of a metre) + 'second'. So, a millisecond is a thousandth slice of a second.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE RESOURCE / EXTREME SPEED IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'миллисекунда' – a direct, correct translation. No trap, but ensure correct stress in Russian: миллисеку́нда.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'milisecond' (one 'l').
- Confusing with 'microsecond' (a millionth of a second).
- Using plural incorrectly with numeral one (e.g., 'one milliseconds').
Practice
Quiz
What does the prefix 'milli-' in 'millisecond' signify?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard abbreviation is 'ms'.
A millisecond (ms) is 1/1000 of a second. A microsecond (µs) is 1/1,000,000 of a second, so one millisecond equals 1000 microseconds.
It is reasonably common, especially with the prevalence of technology. Most people understand it as a very short time, even if they don't use it precisely.
Yes, often to exaggerate speed or brevity, e.g., 'I'll be back in a millisecond.'
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