mile
myl
Mile (noun) means a unit of distance equal to 1,760 yards, or about 1.6 kilometres. Example: “The nearest shop is about a mile down the road.”
noun
1
A unit of distance equal to 1,760 yards, or about 1.6 kilometres.
"The nearest shop is about a mile down the road."
"They ran three miles before breakfast."
"The village is only a mile from the sea, so we often walk there."
2
A race run over roughly this distance.
"She holds her school's record in the mile."
"He trained all winter hoping to win the mile at the school sports day."
"The mile is the final event on the programme this afternoon."
3
A great distance, used loosely and figuratively.
"His answer missed the point by a mile."
"Their new flat is miles better than the damp place they rented before."
"She is the best player on the team by a mile."
How to use mile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA standard measure of distance (1,760 yards), or, loosely, "a long way."
Common pairings
miles away
run a mile
miss by a mile
go the extra mile
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Word forms
- Plural
- miles
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The nearest shop is about a _____ down the road.
Etymology
From Latin mīlle passūs, "a thousand paces," shortened over time to mīlia and then borrowed into Old English as mīl.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mile
See all rhymes for mile →Frequently asked questions
What does “mile” mean?
The word “mile” means a unit of distance equal to 1,760 yards, or about 1.6 kilometres. In plain terms, a standard measure of distance (1,760 yards), or, loosely, "a long way.".
How do you pronounce “mile”?
“Mile” is pronounced myl (/maɪ̯l/ in IPA).
How do you use “mile” in a sentence?
Here is “mile” used in a sentence: “The nearest shop is about a mile down the road.”
What part of speech is “mile”?
“Mile” is a noun.
Where does the word “mile” come from?
The word “mile” comes from Latin. From Latin mīlle passūs, "a thousand paces," shortened over time to mīlia and then borrowed into Old English as mīl.
Is “mile” a common word?
“Mile” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “mile” have?
“Mile” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unit of distance equal to 1,760 yards, or about 1.6 kilometres.
How many kilometres are in a mile?
One mile equals roughly 1.609 kilometres, usually rounded to 1.6 km for everyday use. To convert miles to kilometres you multiply by about 1.6; to go the other way you divide. So a 5-mile run is around 8 kilometres, and a 26.2-mile marathon is just over 42 km.
How many feet are in a mile?
There are 5,280 feet in a mile, which is the same as 1,760 yards. The figure looks odd because the mile has old Roman and medieval roots rather than a neat decimal basis. For shorter distances people use yards or feet, and for longer ones, miles.
What is the difference between a mile and a nautical mile?
A standard, or statute, mile measures distance on land and equals 1,760 yards, about 1.6 km. A nautical mile is used at sea and in the air and is longer, about 1.85 km, because it is based on the Earth's curvature. The two are not interchangeable.
Why is a mile 1,760 yards?
The odd number is a historical accident. The Roman "mille passus," or thousand paces, gave the mile its name and roughly its length. Later English custom tied it to the furlong used in farming, and in 1593 Parliament fixed the mile at eight furlongs — exactly 1,760 yards.
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