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Nanometer: meaning, definitions and examples

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nanometer

 

[ ˈnæn.oʊˌmi.tər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

measurement unit

A nanometer is a unit of measurement in the metric system equivalent to one billionth of a meter. It is commonly used to measure things at the atomic and molecular scale, such as wavelengths of light and the sizes of molecules or nanoparticles.

Synonyms

nanometre, nm.

Examples of usage

  • The wavelength of visible light is approximately 400 to 700 nanometers.
  • Nanotechnology often focuses on structures at the nanometer scale.
  • Microchips are increasingly being manufactured with features measured in nanometers.

Translations

Translations of the word "nanometer" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nanómetro

🇮🇳 नैनोमीटर

🇩🇪 Nanometer

🇮🇩 nanometer

🇺🇦 нанометр

🇵🇱 nanometr

🇯🇵 ナノメートル

🇫🇷 nanomètre

🇪🇸 nanómetro

🇹🇷 nanometre

🇰🇷 나노미터

🇸🇦 نانومتر

🇨🇿 nanometr

🇸🇰 nanometer

🇨🇳 纳米

🇸🇮 nanometer

🇮🇸 nanómetri

🇰🇿 нано метр

🇬🇪 ნანომეტრი

🇦🇿 nanometr

🇲🇽 nanómetro

Etymology

The term 'nanometer' originated from the metric prefix 'nano-', which comes from the Greek word 'nanos,' meaning 'dwarf.' The prefix 'nano-' represents a factor of 10^-9, or one billionth, and was first used in the early 20th century as part of the growing interest in atomic and molecular scales. The meter, a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), was standardized in the late 18th century. With advancements in science, particularly in physics and chemistry during the 20th century, the necessity for a precise measurement at such small scales emerged, leading to the formal adoption of the term 'nanometer' in scientific literature. The nanometer is now a standard unit in nanotechnology, which examines structures and applications that operate at that scale, enabling significant advancements in various fields, including electronics, materials science, and medicine.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,803, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.