Cubic decimeter , English

As shown above, the SI unit for volume is the cubic meter (m3), but most chemists use the liter (L, which is equal to 1 cubic decimeter (dm3)) or milliliter (mL). Appendix A lists the SI base units and prefixes, as well as some English-SI equivalents. 

Volumes are often measured in liters or milliliters in the metric system. One liter (1 L) is one cubic decimeter (1 dm ), or 1000 cubic centimeters (1000 cm ). One milliliter (1 mL) is 1 cm In medical laboratories, the cubic centimeter (cm ) is often abbreviated cc. In the SI, the cubic meter is the basic volume unit and the cubic decimeter replaces the metric unit, liter. Different kinds of glassware are used to measure the volume of liquids. The one we choose depends on the accuracy we desire. For example, the volume of a liquid dispensed can be measured more accurately with a buret than with a small graduated cylinder (Figure 1-13). Equivalences between common English units and metric units are summarized in Table 1-7. 

Volume val-y9m [ME, fr. ME, fr. L volumen roll, scroll, fr. volvere to roll] (14c) n. The space occupied by an article or sample of material, including any voids, within the defining surfaces. The SI unit of volume is the cubic meter, m, known in the past by the name stere, now deprecated (but alive and well in crossword puzzles). SI also allows the use of convenient subvolumes, e.g., m, cm. The exponent also operates on the abbreviated prefix in each case [i.e., lcm = lcm = 10 m, not 0.01 m ]. The special name litre (liter in the US English) has been approved for the cubic decimeter (dm ) but is to be used only for volumetric capacity and dry and liquid measure. No prefix other than milli- (m) or micro- (p) should be used with liter. Some conversions of other volume units to SI are given in the Appendix. 

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