If the selector is in the 2 mA position and the result is .25 mA, what does this signify?

When the selector is in the 2 mA position and the result reads 0.25 mA, this indicates that the current being measured falls below the minimum measurement capability of the currently selected range. In this case, since the meter is set to measure current up to 2 mA, a reading of 0.25 mA confirms that the current detected is indeed within the operational range of the multimeter but is lower than the selected maximum of 2 mA. The correct interpretation here is that the current being measured is significantly underserved by the selected range, requiring to either adjust the range or confirm that this is the expected measurement.

This situation does not imply that the circuit is open, which would typically result in a reading of zero, nor does it confirm the meter's functionality, as a reading is being taken. Additionally, the settings are technically correct because the meter is set to read in the 2 mA range, even though the observed current is less than that maximum limit.