Minim (unit)

Minim (unit)

The minim (abbreviated min or ♏) is a unit of volume in both the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Specifically it is 1⁄60 of a fluidram[1] or 1⁄480 of a fluid ounce.[2]

In contrast with apothecaries' weight, apothecaries' measure is a system both recent and short-lived. It seems to have arisen with the United Kingdom's defining of the new imperial gallon in 1824, and is fully described at least as early as 1878 in the Weights and Measures Act. In the United Kingdom, the 1963 Weights and Measures Act provided for the abolition of the minim, fluid scruple, and fluid drachm, all already obsolete. Actual delegalization occurred on February 1, 1971.

While the use of the minim, along with other such measures, has been reduced by the adoption of the metric system, it still persists in some countries in the measurement of dosages of medicine.

Definitions

Imperial minim
1 imperial minim  =  1⁄480 imperial fluid ounce
=  1⁄60 imperial fluidram
=  59.1938802083 microlitre (exactly)[3][4]
≈  1⁄500 US fluid ounce
≈  0.960759940 US fluid minim
US customary minim
1 US minim  =  1⁄480 US fluid ounce
=  1⁄80 US teaspoon
=  1⁄60 US fluidram
=  61.611519921875 microliters (exactly)[5]
≈  1⁄461 imperial fluid ounce
≈  1.040842731 imperial minims

References and notes

  1. ^ also spelt fluid drachm or fluid dram
  2. ^ CIA World Factbook
  3. ^ "The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995". 2000-09-20. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_2.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-18. 
  4. ^ The notation 3 indicates that the digit 3 is repeated infinitely.
  5. ^ This assumes the international inch of exactly 25.4 millimeters. One US gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches = (3 in.)×(7 in.)×(11 in.).

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  • minim — unit of liquid volume equal to 1/480 fluid ounces Units of Measurement …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • minim — (m or min)    1. a traditional unit of volume used for very small quantities of liquids. In pharmacy, the term drop traditionally meant the same thing as 1 minim. The minim is defined to be 1/60 fluid dram or 1/480 fluid ounce. The U. S. minim is …   Dictionary of units of measurement

  • Minim (volume) — The minim (abbreviated min or ♏) is a unit of volume in both the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Specifically it is frac|60 of a fluidram [also spelt fluid drachm or fluid dram ] or frac|480 of a fluid ounce. [… …   Wikipedia

  • minim — /min euhm/, n. 1. the smallest unit of liquid measure, 1/60 of a fluid dram, roughly equivalent to one drop. Abbr.: min, min.; 2. Music. a note, formerly the shortest in use, but now equivalent in time value to one half of a semibreve; half note …   Universalium

  • minim — 1. A fluid measure, 160 of a fluidrachm; in the case of water about one drop. 2. Smallest; least; the smallest of several similar structures. [L. minimus, least] * * * min·im min əm n either of two units of capacity equal to 1/60 fluid dram: a) a …   Medical dictionary

  • minim — 1. noun a) A half note, drawn as a semibreve with a stem. b) A unit of volume, in the Imperial and U.S. customary systems, 1/60 fluid drachm. Approximately equal to 1 drop, 62 μL or 0.9 grain (weight) of water. 2. adverb …   Wiktionary

  • minim — min·im || mɪnɪm n. smallest unit of liquid measure, 1/60 of fluid dram, drop; half note, musical note equal to half of a semibreve (Music); very small quantity …   English contemporary dictionary

  • minim — n. a unit of volume used in pharmacy, equivalent to one sixtieth part of a fluid drachm …   The new mediacal dictionary

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