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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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. 2018
Related Words
enough, enormous, tremendous, humongous, colossal, monumental, whopping, gigantic, considerable, vast, sizeable, noble, grandiose, stately, striking, commanding, magnificent, imperial, massive, grandExamples from the Web for mega
Contemporary Examples
We have reached a tipping point where mega donors completely dominate the landscape.
And who can blame them for feeling disenfranchised when they see their efforts dwarfed by the mega donors.
This was the young, telegenic, and popular Robby Gallaty of Brainerd Baptist (mega-)Church in Tennessee.
The Hateful Pastor All Too Happy to Be Left Behind When It Comes to GaysJay Michaelson
September 6, 2014
They got their name (which means “mega tooth”) from their enormous teeth, each of which could be greater than six inches long.
Instead, after Citizens United, the mega donors set up their own shadow parties.
Historical Examples
As this letter A is formed by a larger aperture than the former one, it may be called A mega.
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of SocietyErasmus Darwin.
mega
- slang extremely good, great, or successful
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Word Origin
C20: probably independent use of mega-
mega-
- denoting 10 6megawatt Symbol: M
- (in computer technology) denoting 2 20 (1 048 576)megabyte
- large or greatmegalith
- informal great in importance or amountmegastar
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Word Origin
from Greek megas huge, powerful
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for mega
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]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
mega-
- Large:megacephaly.
- One million (106):megahertz.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
mega-
- A prefix that means:
- Large, as in megadose, a large dose.
- One million, as in megahertz, one million hertz.
- 220 (that is, 1,048,576), which is the power of 2 closest to a million, as in megabyte.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.