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.
