Nan
noun
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
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Nan
1 American
[nan]
/ næn /
noun
-
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
-
a female given name.
nan-
2
American
nan
British
/ næn /
noun
Usage
What does nan- mean? Nan- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is very occasionally used in scientific and technical terms. Nan- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nan-?Nan- is a variant of nano-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nano- article.
Etymology
Origin of nan
see nanny ; compare Greek nanna aunt, Medieval Latin nonna old woman
Vocabulary lists containing nan
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Nan Ransohoff of payments firm Stripe has described the moment as a "third wave" of American philanthropy, after the industrial fortunes of the late 19th century and the internet billionaires of recent decades.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
Chinese consumers have "matured a lot", becoming more discerning, said Jing Daily's Nan.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
And at her introductory press conference, Wooden’s daughter, Nan, sat in the front row.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
Tate - as Nan - will also be treating the audience to a musical number.
From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026
Abby sat with Nan at the kitchen table while a lady old enough to be personal friends with Betsy Ross, sewer of the first US flag, hobbled around the kitchen.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
"This was passed to me by my nan, she swore by it," she says.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Her nan grabbed her "blind and diabetic" Yorkshire terrier Molly and pet budgie before leaving the property, said Jade.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
She said her grandfather died 10 years ago and her nan had happened to take off the gold wedding ring she wore, about half an hour before the fire.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Earlier this year Western Isles council – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – said it would consider building tunnels or bridges across the Sounds of Harris and Barra.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
“What happened to staying with your nan in White-Leaved Oak?”
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
