mega-
variant of megalo- (megalith); also the initial element in units of measure that are equal to one million of the units denoted by the base word (megahertz). Symbol: M
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RELATED WORDS
enough, enormous, tremendous, humongous, colossal, monumental, whopping, gigantic, considerable, vast, sizeable, noble, grandiose, stately, striking, commanding, magnificent, imperial, massive, grand
Nearby words
- mefenamic acid,
- meff,
- mefloquine,
- meg,
- mega,
- megabacterium,
- megabit,
- megabladder,
- megabuck,
- megabucks
Also especially before a vowel, meg-.
Origin of mega-
combining form representing Greek mégas large, great
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for mega
mega
adjective
Word Origin for mega
C20: probably independent use of mega-
mega-
combining form
Word Origin for mega-
from Greek megas huge, powerful
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
mega-
before vowels meg-, word-forming element often meaning "large, great," but in precise scientific language "one million" (megaton, megawatt, etc.), from Greek megas "great, large, vast, big, high, tall; mighty, important" (fem. megale), from PIE *meg- "great" (cf. Latin magnus, Old English micel; see mickle). Mega began to be used alone as an adjective by 1982.
High-speed computer stores 2.5 megabits [headline in "Electronics" magazine, Oct. 1, 1957]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
mega-
pref.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
mega-
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.