Nano-: meaning, definitions and examples

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nano-

[ ˈnæn.oʊ- ]

Prefix

^{Context #1 | Prefix}

measurement unit

The prefix 'nano-' refers to a factor of one billionth (10^-9) and is commonly used in science and technology to indicate extremely small sizes or quantities. It is often associated with fields such as nanotechnology, where substances and structures are manipulated at the molecular or atomic level.

Examples of usage

nanometer (one billionth of a meter)
nanotechnology (technology on a molecular scale)
nanoparticle (a particle with dimensions on the nanometer scale)
nanosecond (one billionth of a second)

Translations

Translations of the word "nano-" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nano-

🇮🇳 नैनो-

🇩🇪 Nano-

🇮🇩 nano-

🇺🇦 нано-

🇵🇱 nano-

🇯🇵 ナノ-

🇫🇷 nano-

🇪🇸 nano-

🇹🇷 nano-

🇰🇷 나노-

🇸🇦 نانومتر-

🇨🇿 nano-

🇸🇰 nano-

🇨🇳 纳米-

🇸🇮 nano-

🇮🇸 nana-

🇰🇿 нано-

🇬🇪 ნანო-

🇦🇿 nano-

🇲🇽 nano-

Etymology

The prefix 'nano-' is derived from the Greek word 'nanos', meaning 'dwarf'. It was first adopted into the International System of Units (SI) in 1960 to denote a factor of 10^-9. As science and technology advanced, especially in the late 20th century, the term gained prominence with the rise of nanotechnology. This refers to the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale, which has enabled significant advancements across various fields including materials science, electronics, and medicine. The association of 'nano' with minuscule sizes has made it a vital part of modern scientific terminology.