Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of power equal to one thousandth of a watt: A "milliwatt" is a metric unit of measurement for power, representing one one-thousandth (1/1000) of a standard watt. It is commonly used to measure small amounts of power, such as in electronics, telecommunications, and laser output.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laser pointer emits a beam with a power of only five milliwatts.
  • This low-power sensor operates on just a few milliwatts of energy.
  • The signal strength was measured in milliwatts.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific and Engineering Contexts: The term is frequently used in technical specifications, data sheets, and scientific papers to precisely quantify low power levels.
  • The amplifier's output is rated at 250 milliwatts.
• Decibel-milliwatt (dBm): A common derived unit where power is referenced to one milliwatt. This is a logarithmic measurement used in radio frequency and optical engineering.
  • The receiver sensitivity is -20 dBm, which is equivalent to 0.01 milliwatts.

Variants and Related Words

• Watt (W): The base unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). One watt is equal to 1000 milliwatts.
• Kilowatt (kW): A unit of power equal to one thousand watts.
• Megawatt (MW): A unit of power equal to one million watts.
• Milliwatt-hour (mWh): A unit of energy representing one milliwatt of power expended for one hour. (Note: This is a compound unit, not a variant of the word "milliwatt" itself).

Synonyms

• mW: The standard abbreviation for milliwatt.
• One thousandth of a watt: A descriptive synonym.

Related Phrases and Abbreviations

• dBm (decibel-milliwatt): As mentioned in Advanced Usage, this is a key related logarithmic unit where 0 dBm is defined as 1 milliwatt.
  • A power level of 10 dBm corresponds to 10 milliwatts.

Noun

1. a unit of power equal to one thousandth of a watt