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nano-


nano-: [SI: the next quantifier below micro-; meaning *
   10^(-9)] pref. Smaller than micro-, and used in the same rather
   loose and connotative way.  Thus, one has nanotechnology
   (coined by hacker K. Eric Drexler) by analogy with
   `microtechnology'; and a few machine architectures have a
   `nanocode' level below `microcode'.  Tom Duff at Bell Labs has
   also pointed out that "Pi seconds is a nanocentury".
   See also quantifiers, pico-, nanoacre, nanobot,
   nanocomputer, nanofortnight.