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rem

Rem is a unit for measuring the amount of ionizing radiation that would be required to produce biological damage, or the stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement.

(noun)

An example of a rem is a unit used after body tissue is exposed to gamma rays.
An example of REM is the time of dreaming and deep sleep.

See rem in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. rem

a basic unit used to measure the amount of biological damage caused by various types of ionizing radiation, equal to the dose that produces the same amount of damage in human tissue as one roentgen of X-rays or gamma rays (0.01 sievert)

Origin: r(oentgen) e(quivalent), m(an)

noun pl. REMs

Psychol. the periodic, rapid, jerky movement of the eyeballs under closed lids during stages of sleep associated with dreaming

Origin: r(apid) e(ye) m(ovement)

See rem in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The amount of ionizing radiation required to produce the same biological effect as one rad of high-penetration x-rays.
A unit for measuring absorbed doses of radiation, equivalent to one roentgen of x-rays or gamma rays.

Origin:

Origin: r(oentgen) e(quivalent in) m(an)

noun

The rapid, periodic, jerky movement of the eyes during certain stages of the sleep cycle when dreaming takes place.

Origin:

Origin: r(apid) e(ye) m(ovement)

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