millimetricadj.
/ˌmɪlɪˈmɛtrɪk/, U.S. /ˌmɪləˈmɛtrɪk/ 1. Of the order of a millimetre in length or thickness; relating to or employing electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 1 to 10 millimetres; measured or expressed in millimetres.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > radio wave > microwave > [adjective] > of specific length
millimetric1873
centimetric1932
submillimetre1954
submillimetric1957
1873 Appletons' Jrnl. 27 Sept. 413/3 A polished-steel ‘plunger’.., the circumference of which is graduated with millimetric divisions.
1902 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 32 288 (caption) This was cut across transversely and the cut surface..pressed on millimetric paper.
1962 Newnes Conc. Encycl. Electr. Engin. 883/2 The use of waveguides of practicable size is restricted to waves in the microwave region (i.e. centimetric and millimetric wavelengths).
1969 A. MacLean Puppet on Chain vii. 105 I moved forward with millimetric stealth.
1973 Physics Bull. Nov. 651/2 These direct measurements initially suggested that the millimetric background temperature was much more than 2·7 K.
1989 Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries Sept. 798 Millimetric dimensions in round figures..are highly suspect, and precise figures in feet and inches are essential in the study of English buildings from ad 1100 onwards.
1999 Pop. Sci. Jan. 32 The aircraft was fitted with a new nose that contains two foward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors and a videocamera, which works in conjunction with a passive millimetric wave (MMW) camera.
2. gen. As small as a millimetre (in figurative contexts); (of a distinction) very fine; (of accuracy) extreme. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > extremely small
tinea1400
little weea1525
undersmall?1527
little little1542
perpusil1598
tiny1598
punctual1605
minute1606
pygmya1616
exiguous1630
atomical1646
minutulous1651
puncticular1658
arenulous1664
myriate1665
minimal1666
minim1671
infinitesimal1733
minutissim1768
weeny1790
midgety1798
teeny1802
pinpoint1807
atomic1809
homuncular1822
minnow1824
weeshy1825
pinhead1835
finitesimal1836
homoeopathic1838
teeny-weeny1842
teenty1844
teenty-taunty1844
teeny-tiny1849
submolecular1854
teensy1856
super-compact1860
midget1865
ultramicroscopic1870
pilulous1871
teensy-weensy1872
tee-tiny1872
minuscule1878
smitchy1888
eeny-weeny1894
eensy-weensy1904
pygmean1904
ultramicroscopical1904
bitsy1905
bitty1905
totty1906
millimetric1909
miniscule1909
minuscular1911
insectual1912
micro1931
eeny1933
eensy1940
submicrogram1941
submillimetre1954
diddy1963
mini1963
micro-mini1967
1909 in P. W. Ames Milton Memorial Lect. 1908 194 Those millimetric distinctions by which human character declines or ascends.
1937 E. Pound Let. 30 Nov. (1971) 300 As I haven't yet a projector, the small but not millimetric photos would save time.
1955 A. MacLean H.M.S. Ulysses ii. 40 He had dragged his hammock from the rack, slung it with millimetric accuracy beneath a hot-air louver..and was asleep in two minutes.
1965 Economist 28 Aug. 772/2 Participation in the congress and the administrative bureaucracy is to be shared with ‘millimetric’ equality.
1992 I. Banks Crow Road xvii. 453 I replayed that scene.., imagining that I remembered every word, every movement,..every millimetric increment of body language.
Derivatives
milliˈmetrically adv. in terms of millimetres; to a millimetric or minute degree.
ΚΠ
1979 Arch. Otorhinolaryngol. 225 39 Measurements were done first by comparing the pneumatised area millimetrically and later semiquantitatively.
1988 New Yorker 21 Mar. 32/3 The shoelace's fabric moved only millimetrically against its eyelet with each step.
1993 I. M. Banks Against Dark Background 237 The curtain moved millimetrically; the light from one of the three holes blinked out.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1873