trillion
[ tril-yuh n ]
/ ˈtrɪl yən /
noun, plural tril·lions, (as after a numeral) tril·lion.
a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 12 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 18 zeros.
adjective
amounting to one trillion in number.
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Nearby words
triliteralism, trilithon, trill, trilling, trilling, lionel, trillion, trillionaire, trillium, trilobate, trilobed, trilobite
Related formstril·lionth, noun, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for trillion
British Dictionary definitions for trillion
trillion
/ (ˈtrɪljən) /
noun
the number represented as one followed by twelve zeros (10 12); a million million
(formerly, in Britain) the number represented as one followed by eighteen zeros (10 18); a million million million
(often plural) an exceptionally large but unspecified number
determiner
(preceded by a or a numeral)
- amounting to a trilliona trillion stars
- (as pronoun)there are three trillion
Derived Formstrillionth, noun, adjective
Word Origin for trillion
C17: from French, on the model of million
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for trillion
trillion
1680s, from French trillion (late 15c.), from tri- (see tri-) + (m)illion. Cf. billion. In the U.S., the fourth power of a thousand (one thousand billion, 1 followed by 12 zeroes); in Great Britain, the third power of a million (one million billion, 1 followed by 18 zeroes), which is the original sense.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper