"A"
"B"
"C",
"D",
"E",
"F",
"G",
"H",
"I",
"J",
"K",
"L",
"M",
"N",
"O",
"P",
"Q",
"R",
"S",
"T",
"U",
"V",
"W",
"X",
"Y",
"Z"
Previous set of "M" definitions
MECHANICAL-ROTATION FREQUENCY. The speed in revolutions per minute of armatures in
electric motors and engine-driven generators; blade speed in turbines.
MECHANICAL SCANNING. The reflector, its feed source, or the entire antenna is moved in a desired
pattern.
MEDIUM. The vehicle through which a wave travels from one point to the next. Air, water, and wood are
examples.
MEDIUM ALTITUDE ORBIT. An orbit from 2,000 to 12,000 miles above the earth. The rotation rate of
the earth and satellite are quite different, and the satellite moves quickly across the sky.
MEDIUM FREQUENCY. The band of frequencies from 300 kHz to 3 MHz.
MEGA. A prefix meaning one million, 106; also MEG.
MEGOHMMETER. A meter that measures very large values of resistance; usually used to check for
insulation breakdown in wires.
| METAL ELECTRODE LEADLESS FACE. Surface Mount Components that have metallized terminals at each end of a cylindrical body. MELF components are designed to fit the same footprints as flat components, i.e.: 0805 (.08" x .05") and the 0603 (.06" x .03"). MELF devices may be Fuses, Resistors, or Diodes. |  MELF |
METALLIC ARMOR. A protective covering for wires or cables. Made as a woven wire braid, metal tape, or interlocking metal cover. Types include wire braid, steel tape and wire armor. Made from steel, copper, bronze, or aluminum. Read more Cable Armor
Cable Metallic Armor
METALLIC, INSULATOR. A shorted quarter-wave section of transmission line.
METALLIC RECTIFIER. Also known as a DRY-DISC RECTIFIER. A metal-to-semiconductor, large area, contact device in which a semiconductor is sandwiched between two metal plates. This asymmetrical construction permits current to flow more readily in one direction than the other.
METAL-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR. See MOSFET. [FET Manufacturers]
| METER. A device used to measure a specific quantity, such as current, voltage, or frequency. A panel mount analog meter is shown. However a digital meter may be more common these days. |
 Meter |
METASTABILITY. A circuit condition that could cause a digital logic IC to reside in an invalid state [not high or low]. Refer to the expanded Metastability Definition.
METER MOVEMENT. The part of the meter that moves to indicate some value. Obsolete reference, all equipment is digital, there are no analog meters being used, unless legacy units which have not been discarded.
METER SHUNT. A resistor placed in parallel with the meter terminals; used to provide increased range capability. Obsolete reference; a meter shunt was only required with analog meters which are in decline.
MEZZANINE. The termed used to describe a daughter card which plugs into another card [motherboard] which is then plugged into a backplane. [Mezzanine Card Manufacturers]
MHO. Unit of conductance; the reciprocal of the ohm.
Next set of "M" Terms
