[SI: the next quantifier below micro-;
meaning ×
10-9] 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.