Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of angular measurement: A milliradian is a metric unit of angular measurement equal to one thousandth (1/1000) of a radian. It is used for precise measurement of very small angles.

Usage

• The milliradian is commonly used in fields requiring high angular precision, such as optics, ballistics, and surveying.
• It is often abbreviated as mrad or mil.
• In practical terms, one milliradian subtends approximately 0.0573 degrees.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The sniper adjusted the scope by two milliradians to account for the crosswind.
  • The angular size of the target was calculated to be 3.5 milliradians.

Advanced Usage

• "Mil-dot": A reticle pattern in telescopic sights where the dots are spaced one milliradian apart, used for range estimation and bullet drop compensation.
  • The shooter used the mil-dot reticle to estimate the distance to the target.

Variants and Related Words

• Radian (n): The SI unit of angular measure; the angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius.
• Microradian (n): A unit equal to one millionth of a radian, used for even finer angular measurements.

Synonyms

• Mil (n): A common abbreviation for milliradian, especially in military and shooting contexts.

Notes

• While "mil" is a common synonym, it can be ambiguous as it is also used for the and, in some contexts (like artillery), for a different angular unit equal to 1/6400 of a circle. The term mrad is less ambiguous.
• The conversion is: 1 radian = 1000 milliradians.

Noun

1. a unit of angular distance equal to one thousandth of a radian