First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
mile
noun \ˈmī(-ə)l\
: a unit of measurement equal to 5,280 feet (about 1,609 meters)
miles : a great distance
: a race that is a mile long
Full Definition of MILE
1
: any of various units of distance: as a : a unit equal to 5280 feet — see weight table b : nautical mile
2
: a race of a mile
3
: a relatively great distance, degree, or interval —used chiefly adverbially in plural <was miles ahead of them in education>
— a mile a minute
: with great speed <talking a mile a minute>
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Origin of MILE
Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand
Related to MILE
- Synonyms
- afar, country mile, far cry, long haul
- Antonyms
- hair, inch, step, stone's throw
MILE Defined for Kids
mile
noun \ˈmīl\
Definition of MILE for Kids
1
: a measure of distance (statute mile) equal to 5280 feet (1609 meters)
2
: a measure of distance (geographical mile or nautical mile) used in air and sea travel equal to about 6076 feet (1852 meters)
Word History of MILE
In English we use the word mile for two different lengths. Though the ancient Roman mile was not the same as either of these, the English word mile comes from the Latin name for the Roman mile. This Latin word, milia, came from the phrase milia passuum, literally, “thousands of steps.” From the Latin word for “thousand,” mille, we also get the words mill (a thousandth of a dollar) and million (a thousand thousands).
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