peta-
a combining form used in the names of units of measure equal to one quadrillion (1015 ) of a given base unit.
peta-
American
Peta
1
British
abbreviation
peta-
2
British
prefix
peta–
Scientific
-
A prefix that means:
-
One quadrillion (10 15), as in petahertz, one quadrillion hertz.
-
2 50 (that is, 1,125,899,906,842,624), which is the power of two closest to a quadrillion, as in petabyte.
Etymology
Origin of peta-
Origin uncertain
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:
The binary peta- and exa- loadings, though well established, are not in jargon use either — yet.
From The Jargon File, Version 4.0.0, 24 Jul 1996 by Eric S. Raymond
The binary peta- and exa- loadings, though well established, are not in jargon use either —- yet.
From The Jargon File, Version 2.9.10, 01 Jul 1992 by Eric S. Raymond
The binary peta- and exa- loadings, though well established, are not in jargon use either -- yet.
From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Guy L. Steele
The author of the BCA note, Doug Peta, said that in the early 1980s, the value of equity portfolios and mutual fund holdings was far less than half of households’ disposable income.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
Importantly, Peta also noted that equities account for a greater share of household net worth across all wealth brackets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
“Containing debt growth has helped the rank-and-file keep spending at an expansion-consistent rate despite sluggish income growth,” Peta notes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
Animal rights charity Peta called on the government to act, telling DPA that stricter rules needed to be put in place to protect privately-owned animals.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
For example, the best of them all is Peta, because you liked her, you comprehended her, partly, for she was a child, gentle and sweet.
From The Captain of the Gray-Horse Troop by Hamlin Garland
Definitions 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.
