Definition

1. Noun:
   • Mendelevium: A radioactive, synthetic chemical element. Its current symbol is Md, but Mv was its former symbol.
   • Millivolt: A unit of electrical potential equal to one thousandth (1/1000) of a volt.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Mendelevium):
  • The element mv was first produced in 1955.
  • In early periodic tables, you might see the symbol Mv for mendelevium.
• Noun (Millivolt):
  • The sensor outputs a very small signal, just a few mV.
  • You need a sensitive multimeter to measure differences in the mv range.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Notation: In technical writing, "mV" (with a lowercase 'm' and uppercase 'V') is the standard and correct abbreviation for millivolt. Using "mv" is often considered informal or incorrect in formal contexts.
  • The battery's open-circuit voltage is 1.5 V, but under load it drops by 200 mV.
• Historical Context: When referring to the element, "Mv" is now obsolete. It is primarily used when discussing historical documents or the history of the periodic table.
  • The team's original paper listed the new element with the symbol Mv.

Variants and Related Words

• Md: The current and correct chemical symbol for the element mendelevium.
• Millivoltage (n): A voltage measured in millivolts.
• Kilovolt (kV) (n): A unit of potential equal to one thousand volts.
• Microvolt (µV) (n): A unit of potential equal to one millionth of a volt.

Synonyms

• (For millivolt): There is no direct synonym, but it can be described as "a thousandth of a volt."
• (For mendelevium): Element 101.

Notes on Usage

• Capitalization: The meaning changes with capitalization. "Mv" (capital M, lowercase v) historically refers to the element. "mV" (lowercase m, capital V) is the unit for millivolt. "MV" (both capitals) can sometimes stand for "megavolt" (one million volts) or other phrases like "Motor Vessel."
• Context is Key: The intended meaning of "mv" is almost entirely determined by the context (chemistry/physics vs. electrical engineering). In modern English, it most commonly implies "millivolt" in technical discussions.

Noun

1. a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding einsteinium with alpha particles (Md is the current symbol for mendelevium but Mv was formerly the symbol)
2. a unit of potential equal to one thousandth of a volt