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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English Affixes From A To Z: A One-Stop List Of Suffixes, Prefixes, and Combining FormsIn English, we love to make new words by adding all sorts of bits to the front and back of existing terms. These are called affixes, and they are added to the base or stem of a word. When attached to the end of word, the affix is called a suffix. And to the beginning? A prefix.
Nearby words
mefenamic acid, meff, mefloquine, meg, mega, mega-, megabacterium, megabit, megabladder, megabuck, megabyte
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
British Dictionary definitions for mega-
mega-
combining form
denoting 10 6megawatt Symbol: M
(in computer technology) denoting 2 20 (1 048 576)megabyte
large or greatmegalith
informal great in importance or amountmegastar
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
Medicine definitions for mega-
mega-
pref.
Large:megacephaly.
One million (106):megahertz.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for mega-
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.