A centiliter (cl) is a metric unit of volume that is equal to one-hundredth of a liter. It is commonly used in measuring liquids, especially in cooking and beverage industries. For example, a standard bottle of wine might contain 750 milliliters, which is equivalent to 75 centiliters. Centiliters are part of the metric system, which is used worldwide for scientific and everyday measurements. This system is based on powers of ten, making it easier to convert between units. For instance, 1 liter equals 100 centiliters, and 1 centiliter equals 10 milliliters, facilitating precise measurements in various applications.