yotta-

American  

1. a combining form used in the names of units of measure equal to one septillion (1024 ) of a given base unit.

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Usage

What does yotta- mean? Yotta- is a combining form used like a prefix denoting “one septillion (1024)” of a unit of measure. It is very occasionally used in technical terms, particularly in computer science. Yotta- may come from Greek iôta, the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. To learn more, check out our entry to iota. However, it may also be an alteration of the form octa-, meaning "eight," which is a reference to how yotta- is equivalent to 10008; compare with yocto-, meaning “one septillionth,” by reading our Words That Use article on that form.

Etymology

Origin of yotta-

Possibly an alteration of Greek iôta, ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (representing y )