microwatt

A scientist measures a microwatt of power in the lab.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of power: "microwatt" is a unit of power equal to one millionth (10⁻⁶) of a watt. It is used to measure very small amounts of electrical power, often in electronics, physics, or medical devices.
   • Symbol: μW.

Usage Examples

• (The sensor uses a very small amount of electrical energy.)
• (The medical device runs on an extremely low power level.)

Advanced Usage

• "microwatt-level power": power measured in the range of microwatts, often referring to energy-efficient or low-power systems.

  • The new chip design achieves microwatt-level power consumption. (The chip uses very little electricity.)

• "microwatt per square centimeter": a unit of power density, used in contexts like radio frequency exposure or solar energy.

  • The radio wave exposure was measured at 0.5 microwatts per square centimeter. (The intensity of the radiation is very low.)

Variants and Related Words

• Watt (n): the standard unit of power in the International System of Units (SI).

  • A typical light bulb uses 60 watts of power. (The bulb consumes 60 units of electrical power.)

• Milliwatt (n): one thousandth (10⁻³) of a watt.

  • The laser pointer emits 5 milliwatts of light. (The device produces a small but visible beam.)

• Nanowatt (n): one billionth (10⁻⁹) of a watt.

  • The tiny circuit operates at only a few nanowatts. (The circuit uses an extremely tiny amount of power.)

Synonyms

• Micro-unit of power: a very small measure of electrical energy.
• Micropower: power measured in microwatts (often used informally).

Related Idioms

Phrasal Verbs