millilítra

The millilitre (symbol: mL) is a unit of volume in the metric system, equal to one-thousandth of a litre. It is commonly used to measure small quantities of liquids, such as pharmaceutical dosages, cooking ingredients, and laboratory reagents. The millilitre is part of the International System of Units (SI) and is widely accepted for everyday use, though it is not an official SI unit—its place in the SI is taken by the cubic centimetre (cm³), which is equivalent in volume.

One millilitre is equivalent to one cubic centimetre (1 mL = 1 cm³). This relationship makes the millilitre useful in contexts where both liquid volume and solid displacement are measured, such as in chemistry or physics experiments. The millilitre is also frequently used in medical and scientific fields to ensure precise measurements, particularly in fluid administration and chemical reactions.

In everyday life, millilitres are often used in cooking and baking to measure ingredients like water, milk, or oil. Many measuring cups and spoons include millilitre markings for accuracy. The metric system’s decimal-based structure simplifies conversions, as 1 litre equals 1000 millilitres, and 1 millilitre equals 0.001 litres.

The symbol "mL" is derived from the metric prefix *milli-* (meaning one-thousandth) combined with the unit symbol "L" for litre. While some sources use "ml" (lowercase), the International Bureau of Weights and Measures recommends uppercase "mL" for clarity. The millilitre remains a practical and globally recognised unit for measuring small volumes in both professional and domestic settings.