METER MOVEMENTThe part of the meter that moves to indicate some value  .
METER SHUNTA resistor placed in parallel with the meter terminals; used to provide increased range
MHOUnit of conductance; the reciprocal of the ohm .
MICROA prefix meaning one-millionth .
MICROCIRCUITA small circuit having high equivalent-circuit-element density, which is considered as
a single part composed of interconnected elements on or within a single substrate to perform an
electronic-circuit function .
MICROCIRCUIT MODULEAn assembly of microcircuits or a combination of microcircuits and
discrete components that perform one or more distinct functions .
MICROELECTRONICSThe solid-state concept of electronics in which compact semiconductor
materials are designed to function as an entire circuit or subassembly rather than as circuit components
MICROPHONEAn energy converter that changes sound energy into electrical energy .
MICROWAVE REGIONThe portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from 1,000 MHz to 100,000 MHz
MILThe diameter of a conductor equal to 1/1000 (.001) inch .
MIL FOOTA unit of measurement for conductors (diameter of 1 mil, 1 foot in length.) .
MILITARY SPECIFICATIONS (MIL-SPEC)Technical requirements and standards adopted by the
Department of Defense that must be met by vendors selling materials to DOD .
MILITARY STANDARDS (MILSTD)Standards of performance for components or equipment that
must be met to be acceptable for military systems .
MILLIA prefix meaning one-thousandth .
MINIATURE ELECTRONICSModules, packages, pcbs, and so forth, composed exclusively of discrete
MINIMUM DISCERNIBLE SIGNAL (MDS)The weakest input signal that produces a usable signal at
the output of a receiver. The weaker the input signal, the more sensitive the receiver .
MINORITY CARRIERSEither electrons or holes, whichever is the less dominant carrier in a
semiconductor device. In P-type semiconductors, electrons are the minority carriers; in N-type
semiconductors, the holes are the minority carriers .
MINORITY CURRENTA very small current that passes through the base-to-collector junction when
this junction is reverse biased .
MINOR LOBEThe lobe in which the radiation intensity is less than that of a major lobe .
MIXERIn radar, a circuit that combines the received RF signal with a local-oscillator signal to effectively
convert the received signal to a lower IF frequency signal .