How does the word sound?
History of this Word
"giga" is from "gigas" (giant) spoken by people of Greece starting about 1000 B.C.
Notes
In this sense, it is a word added to another word to form a new word. In computer terminology, giga refers to one billion in the mathematical base two system which would be 1,073,741,824 rather than 1,000,000,000.
Definition
A prefix added to the start of a word. Indicates that "one billion (1,000,000,000)" modifies the word. Created to expand meanings. Can be used with many words to form new words.
Examples of how the word is used
| For the last several years the one-gigahertz barrier has for computer buffs taken on the significance of the sound barrier or the four-minute mile. |
| One gigawatt is enough to supply the electric demand of about one million homes. |