nanoscale

American

[nan-uh-skeyl, ney-nuh-] / ˈnæn əˌskeɪl, ˈneɪ nə- /

adjective

of or relating to microscopic particles of matter, devices, etc., that are measured in nanometers or microns.

a nanoscale sensor made of a single molecule.

noun

Measurements. a scale of measurement that uses nanometers or microns as units of measure.

nanoscale Scientific

/ năn′ə-skāl′ /

Relating to or occurring on a scale of nanometers.

Etymology

Origin of nanoscale

First recorded in 1980–85; nano- + scale ²

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.

"We synthesize unique nanoscale building blocks and stack them into interesting structures. In this case, we were able to stabilize these theorized transitional structures and demonstrate important quantum optical properties."

From Science Daily • May 30, 2026

To be sure, commercial aerospace and nanoscale chip manufacturing are very different industries.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Until now, those nanoscale regions could not be directly observed.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

The material's responsiveness also makes it promising for use in photonic circuits and nanoscale sensors.

From Science Daily • Apr. 21, 2026

Scientists at the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology have now developed a new type of squeezed phonon laser that can precisely control these vibrations at the nanoscale.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023