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

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

He believed there could be a resurrection of his product, but the Tata Nano was eventually discontinued after sales plummeted year on year.

From BBC

Tata later said it was a "huge mistake to brand Nano as the world's cheapest car. People don't want to be seen driving the world's cheapest car!"

From BBC

In 2022, a video of him travelling in a Nano car - one of the world's cheapest cars, now mostly remembered as one of Tata's failed dreams - went viral on social media.

From BBC