From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
M \M\ ([e^]m).
1. M, the thirteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant, and from the manner of its formation, is called the labio-nasal consonant. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 178-180, 242.
Note: The letter M came into English from the Greek, through the Latin, the form of the Greek letter being further derived from the Ph[oe]nician, and ultimately, it is believed, from the Egyptian. Etymologically M is related to n, in lime, linden; emmet, ant; also to b. M is readily followed by b and p. the position of the lips in the formation of both letters being the same. The relation of b and m is the same as that of d and t to n. and that of g and k to ng.
2. As a numeral, M stands for one thousand, both in English and Latin.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
M \M\, noun
1. (Print.) A quadrat, the face or top of which is a perfect square; also, the size of such a square in any given size of type, used as the unit of measurement for that type: 500 m's of pica would be a piece of matter whose length and breadth in pica m's multiplied together produce that number. [Written also {em}.]
2. (law) A brand or stigma, having the shape of an M, formerly impressed on one convicted of manslaughter and admitted to the benefit of clergy.
{M roof} (Arch.), a kind of roof formed by the junction of two common roofs with a valley between them, so that the section resembles the letter M.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
m
adjective
1: denoting a quantity consisting of 1,000 items or units [syn: {thousand}, {a thousand}, {one thousand}, {1000}, {k}]
noun
1: the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards) [syn: {meter}, {metre}]
2: concentration measured by the number of moles of solute per liter of solvent [syn: {molarity}, {molar concentration}]
3: the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100 [syn: {thousand}, {one thousand}, {1000}, {K}, {chiliad}, {G}, {grand}, {thou}, {yard}]
4: the 13th letter of the Roman alphabet
From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:
M pref. (on units) suff. (on numbers) [SI] See {{quantifiers}}.
From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:
M$ Common net abbreviation for Microsoft, everybody's least favorite monopoly.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
M
1. Alternative name for {MUMPS}. 2. A {C}-like language from {Silicon Compiler Systems} for multilevel {hardware description}. It is currently available in the {GDT} package from {Mentor Graphics}. [{Jargon File}] (1994-10-26) 3. The abbreviated for of {mega-}. (1995-01-10)
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