nano

¹

[ nan-oh, ney-noh ]

noun

1. Informal. nanotechnology.

nano-

²

1. a combining form with the meaning “very small, minute,” used in the formation of compound words ( nanoplankton ); in the names of units of measure it has the specific sense “one billionth” (10 -9 ):

   nanomole; nanosecond.

nano-

combining_form

1. denoting 10 ^–9 n

   nanosecond

2. indicating extreme smallness

   nanoplankton

nano–

1. A prefix that means:
2. Very small or at a microscopic level, as in nanotube. In this sense, this prefix is sometimes spelled nanno–, as in nannoplankton.
3. One billionth, as in nanosecond, one billionth of a second.

nano-

1. A prefix meaning one billionth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nano¹

By shortening

Origin of nano²

Combining form representing Greek nânos, nánnos dwarf

Word History and Origins

Origin of nano¹

from Latin nānus dwarf, from Greek nanos

Example Sentences

Researchers at the University of Sydney Nano Institute have made a significant advance in the field of molecular robotics by developing custom-designed and programmable nanostructures using DNA origami.

From Science Daily

The wearable ultrasound patch builds upon an earlier prototype that was pioneered by the lab of Sheng Xu, a professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at UC San Diego.

From Science Daily

The team reports on its research in the current issue of the journal ACS Nano.

From Science Daily

Some of those decisions paid off, while others - including a failed telecom venture and the Nano, which was billed as the world's cheapest car but flopped - lost money.

From BBC

While the Tata Group made significant strides overseas in the early 2000s, domestically the failure of the Tata Nano – launched and marketed as the world’s cheapest car – was a setback for Tata.

From BBC