Minutes (min)
A minute is a time unit equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour. It is defined by the International System of Units (SI) as exactly 60 seconds, based on the SI second derived from atomic time standards [bipm-si-brochure]. Minutes are fundamental for everyday timekeeping and scientific measurements.
Origin
The minute originated from ancient Babylonian sexagesimal (base-60) numeral systems, with formal adoption in time measurement dating back to medieval Europe. The term derives from Latin pars minuta prima, meaning 'first small part' of an hour [bipm-si-brochure].
Worldwide Use
Minutes are universally used worldwide for civil, scientific, and industrial time measurement. All countries rely on minutes for clocks, schedules, and time intervals, standardized by international bodies like BIPM and ISO [bipm-si-brochure].
Common References
- One hour contains 60 minutes
- Typical phone call duration measured in minutes
- Cooking times often specified in minutes
- Public transportation schedules showing minutes