■ noun
1》 (also statute ~ ) a unit of linear measure equal to 1,760 yards (approximately 1.609 kilometres).
2》 historical a Roman measure of 1,000 paces.
3》 ( ~s ) informal a very long way or a very great amount.
■ adverb ( ~s ) informal by a great amount or a long way: I feel ~s better.
Phrases
be ~s away informal be lost in thought.
go the extra ~ make a special effort to achieve something.
run a ~ informal be very alarmed or frightened.
stand (or stick ) out a ~ informal be very obvious.
Origin
OE mīl , based on L. mil(l)ia , plural of mille 'thousand'.