4 syllables: Mi, cro, me, ter. Stress on cro.
meye-KRAH-muh-tur
/maɪˈkɹɑmətɚ/
Micrometer is pronounced meye-KRAH-muh-tur (/maɪˈkɹɑmətɚ/). It has four syllables (Mi-cro-me-ter), with the stress on "cro". A micrometer is a precision measuring instrument used to measure small distances or thicknesses with high accuracy, typically in the range of micrometers. It can also refer to a metric unit equal to one millionth of a meter, used in scientific and engineering contexts. The term is commonly used in manufacturing, machining, and metrology to ensure tight tolerances.
nounA micrometer is a precision measuring instrument used to measure small distances or thicknesses with high accuracy, typically in the range of micrometers. It can also refer to a metric unit equal to one millionth of a meter, used in scientific and engineering contexts. The term is commonly used in manufacturing, machining, and metrology to ensure tight tolerances.
- You may drop the middle schwa or replace it with a full /ə/ leading to /ˈmaɪ.kræˌmi.tɚ/; always aim for /ˈmaɪ.krəˌmi.tɚ/ with a short, relaxed middle syllable. - Another common error is misplacing stress, speaking as /ˈmaɪ.kroˌmiːtər/ or /ˈmaɪ.kraˌmitər/. Keep primary stress on the first syllable and secondary on the fourth if applicable. - Finally, the final /ɚ/ can be pronounced as a clear /ə/ or reduced; in US, practice ending with a rhotic /ɚ/; in UK, end with /tə/.
"The machinist calibrated the micrometer before taking a critical measurement."
"A micrometer screw gauge is essential for accurate thickness readings in metalworking."
"Researchers used a digital micrometer to verify the sample dimensions at the micron scale."
You say MIH-kroh-MEE-tur with the main stress on the first syllable. IPA for US is /ˈmaɪ.krəˌmi.tɚ/, for UK it’s /ˌmaɪ.kroˈmiː.tə/. Break it into syllables: MI-kro-ME-ter (instrument) or MI-kro-MEE-ter (unit emphasis varies by dialect). Start with /maɪ/ as in mine, then /krə/ with a reduced schwa, then /ˈmi.tɚ/ or /ˈmiː.tə/ depending on dialect. Practice by segmenting and then blending quickly.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying mi-KRO-me-ter; 2) Slurring the second syllable into /krə/ or mispronouncing /ˈmaɪ/ as /maɪ/ with too much length; 3) Treating /ˌmiː/ in some dialects rather than /ˈmi/ when the unit form. Correction: keep the primary stress on the first syllable, use a short /ə/ or /ə/ in the middle (kruh), and pronounce the final /ɚ/ or /ə/ clearly depending on dialect.
US tends to /ˈmaɪ.krəˌmi.tɚ/ with rhotic final /ɚ/. UK often places secondary stress on the third syllable and ends with a clipped /tə/ or /tə/, as /ˌmaɪ.kroˈmiː.tə/ in some readings; AU similar to UK but with a slightly longer vowels in some speakers. Core vowels /aɪ/ and /ə/ stabilize, while final vowel quality shifts from rhotic American /ɚ/ to non-rhotic /ə/ in British varieties.
Three challenges: 1) The sequence /maɪ.krə/ includes a weak middle schwa that can be elided or reduced; 2) The final syllable /ˈmi.tɚ/ or /ˈmi.tə/ requires careful vowel-tap and rhotic ending in US; 3) The cluster /kr/ in the middle can slow articulation if you’re not careful. Practice by isolating the /krə/ portion and blending it smoothly into /mi.tər/.
The prefix is pronounced /maɪ/ in both the instrument and unit senses. The following /kro-/ or /krə-/ does not change the root; the difference between instrument and unit is in context, not in the base pronunciation of /maɪ/ or /krə/. The main variability is final syllable stress and vowel length, not the prefix itself.
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- US: rhotic /ɚ/ at end; maintain short /ə/ in middle; /maɪ/ as in mine; /krə/ with reduced vowel. - UK: non-rhotic; end with /tə/ or /təː/; the middle /kro/ tends to be longer; keep /maɪ/ stable. - AU: similar to UK but with slightly broader vowel qualities; watch vowel length in /miː/ when UK uses that form; keep the /r/ non-rhotic.
Micrometer comes from Greek mikros ‘small’ + metron ‘measure’ + -meter, a suffix denoting an instrument for measuring. The term traces to 17th-18th century scientific vocabulary, reflecting the adoption of precision instruments in mechanical engineering. The modern micrometer was refined in the 19th century as screw-thread-based devices allowed finer resolutions than standard rulers or calipers. The word’s meaning expanded from describing a device that measures small lengths to also denote the metric unit of length equal to one micrometer (µm). First known use in English citations appears in technical manuals and ye olde engineering texts as micrometre in British English, with micrometer emerging as the common American spelling by the 20th century. The dual meaning—instrument and unit—mirrors the broader shift in metrology toward standardized microscopic precision, paralleling the adoption of the metric system in science and industry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Micrometer" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Micrometer"
-ter sounds
-mer sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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