nano-

¹

especially before a vowel, nanno-;

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

²

[nan-oh, ney-noh]

noun

1. Informal.,  nanotechnology.

nano-

combining form

1. n. denoting 10 ^–9

   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 nano-¹

Combining form representing Greek nânos, nánnos dwarf

Origin of nano-²

By shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of nano-¹

from Latin nānus dwarf, from Greek nanos

Example Sentences

Built on the Gemini Pro 3 model, Nano Banana Pro boasts features such as increased image quality, advanced text rendering, connectivity to Google Search and the ability to blend up to 14 reference images.

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According to a company blog post, Nano Banana Pro can help users “generate more accurate, context-rich visuals based on enhanced reasoning, world knowledge and real-time information.”

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Nano Banana Pro’s advanced text-rendering features reflect significant improvements in Google’s underlying large language model.

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“We have an idea of who the front-runners are,” Aaron Clark, portfolio manager at GW&K Investment Management, told MarketWatch prior to the Gemini and Nano Banana launches this week.

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But in a surprising turnaround, Google’s Gemini offering steadily gained traction, in part due to the launch of image editor Nano Banana.

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When To Use

What does nano- mean?

Nano- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is often used in scientific and technical terms.Nano- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nano-?In some rare instances, nano- is spelled with a double -n-, becoming nanno-, as in nannofossil.When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, nano- becomes nan-, as in nanoid. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nan- article.