Final answer:
The abbreviation mA refers to the unit milliampere, which is 1/1,000 of an ampere, the SI unit of electric current.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abbreviation mA stands for milliampere, which is 1/1,000 of an ampere. An ampere (A), commonly known as an amp, is the base unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). The unit is named after André-Marie Ampère, one of the main discoverers of electromagnetism.
An ampere is defined as the amount of electric current that produces a force of 2 x 10-7 newtons per meter between two parallel conductors of infinite length, separated by a vacuum of one meter, and without any external electromagnetic influence.
The fundamental measurement of the ampere is based on the movement of electrical charges: One ampere is equal to one coulomb of charge moving past a point in one second (1 A = 1 C/s).