nano

[ nan-oh, ney-noh ]

/ ˈnæn oʊ, ˈneɪ noʊ /

Save This Word!

noun

Informal. nanotechnology.

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of nano

By shortening

Other definitions for nano (2 of 2)

nano-

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.

Also nanno-; especially before a vowel, nan-.

Origin of nano-

Combining form representing Greek nânos, nánnos dwarf

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use nano in a sentence

New iPods: Your iPod nano and iPod shuffle are looking aged, so maybe it's time for a hardware update?
Apple Reveals New iPhone Tuesday|Brian Ries|September 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It may seem like batteries have improved dramatically — consider the lifespan of an iPod Nano versus a portable cassette player.
Would Putting a Price on Carbon Pave the Way for Electric Cars?|Megan McArdle|January 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One tiny—and, in some cases, Nano-size—device would revolutionize how the world listened to music.
Steve Jobs’s Memorable Moments|Alex Berg|October 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
In 2006, the Left Front government invited the magnate Ratan Tata to set up his Nano factory at Singur.
Mamata Banerjee, India's Political Superwoman|Shoma Chaudhury|May 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Nano Amaldi's injuries proved far less serious than was at first believed.
Shadows of Flames|Amelie Rives
He busied himself over his Nano-cakes and nuts, and prevailed on Battle to eat by making him laugh at his antics.
The Three Mulla-mulgars|Walter De La Mare
John Nano, who spoke several tongues, said that he did not know it in any Indian dialect except in that of his gypsies.
The Gypsies|Charles G. Leland
One last word of John Nano, who was so called from two similar Indian words, meaning “the pet of his grandfather.”
The Gypsies|Charles G. Leland
Saying this he handed me a piece of paper, with his name written on it: John Nano.
The Gypsies|Charles G. Leland

British Dictionary definitions for nano

nano-

combining form

denoting 10 –9nanosecond Symbol: n

indicating extreme smallnessnanoplankton

Word Origin for nano-

from Latin nānus dwarf, from Greek nanos

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

Medical definitions for nano

nano-

pref.

Extremely small:nanoid.

One-billionth (10-9):nanometer.

Scientific definitions for nano

nano-

A prefix that means:

Very small or at a microscopic level, as in nanotube. In this sense, this prefix is sometimes spelled nanno-, as in nannoplankton.

One billionth, as in nanosecond, one billionth of a second.

Cultural definitions for nano

nano-

A prefix meaning one billionth.