millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmi-lə-ˌse-kənd 

-kənt

: one thousandth of a second

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A millisecond isn't long enough for the blink of an eye, but a few milliseconds may determine the winner of a swim race or a hundred-yard dash. With the ever-increasing speed of modern technology, even a millisecond has started to seem a little sluggish; computer operations are now measured in nanoseconds—that is, billionths of a second.

Examples of millisecond in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Any disruption in the process, like loss of power or mechanical failure would cause the plasma to cool almost instantly – in milliseconds – and thus cause the reaction to stop. —New Atlas, 22 Dec. 2024

Looking Ahead The central challenge is swiftly distinguishing between truth and falsehood in an era where milliseconds matter. —Yasin Dus, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Their strong magnetic fields can produce beams of radio waves that sweep across the sky like a lighthouse, resulting in metronomic radio pulses with intervals ranging from milliseconds to seconds. —Bydaniel Clery, science.org, 4 Dec. 2024

Finance, Trading, Market Analysis Market volatility is notoriously difficult to analyze, let alone predict upcoming fluctuations, which means the ability to make decisions and take action in milliseconds can make or break any investment strategy. —Gary Fowler, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmil-ə-ˌsek-ənd 

 also  -ənt

: one thousandth of a second

Medical Definition

millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmil-ə-ˌsek-ənd, -ənt 

: one thousandth of a second

—abbreviation ms, msec