Nanometer
/ˈnæn.oʊˌmiː.tər/noun
A unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter.
Did you know?The prefix nano- comes from Greek nanos, meaning “dwarf,” so every time scientists say nanometer, they’re invoking a word that once meant something tiny enough to feel almost mythical.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
nanos
“dwarf; very small person”
Latin
Latin
nanus
“dwarf”
19th Century
French/English
nanomètre
“a metric unit built with the prefix nano- plus mètre”
1960
English
nanometer
“a unit of length equal to 10⁻⁹ meter”