mega-

views updated May 21 2018

mega- • comb. form 1. very large in size, extent, capacity, or amount: megalith.2. (in units of measurement) denoting a factor of one million (10⁶): megahertz megadeath.3. Comput. denoting a factor of 2²⁰.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

mega-

views updated Jun 11 2018

mega- (symbol: M) A prefix indicating a multiple of one million (10⁶), as in megahertz and megawatt. When the binary number system is used in a structure or process (as in semiconductor RAM or ROM), the prefix then indicates a multiple of 2²⁰, i.e. 1 048 576, as in megabyte or megabit. The context usually clarifies which meaning is intended, although being numerically close the meanings are often considered more or less equivalent.

A Dictionary of Computing JOHN DAINTITH

mega-

views updated Jun 11 2018

mega-, before a vowel meg-, comb. form of Gr. mégas great (see MAGNITUDE), as in megalithic, megaphone, megatherium XIX; similarly megal(o-), the Gr. stem, as in megalomania XIX.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

mega-

views updated May 18 2018

mega-
1. A prefix denoting large size; e.g. meganucleus, megasporangium.

2. Symbol M. A prefix used in the metric system to denote one million times. For example, 10⁶ volts = 1 megavolt (MV).

A Dictionary of Biology