Nanotech

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. The science and engineering involved in designing and manipulating materials and devices at an atomic or molecular scale typically below 100 nanometers ; the study and application of extremely small structures and systems with unique physical, chemical, and biological properties ; the field focused on creating innovative technologies and solutions through precise control of matter on a nanoscale dimension
  2. The discipline dealing with the control and creation of structures at sizes less than a hundred nanometers, enabling novel applications in medicine, electronics, and materials science ; the exploration and utilization of phenomena occurring at the nanoscale for advances in various technological and scientific domains ; the area of research and development centered on fabricating devices and systems that exploit unique nanoscale characteristics for improved performance
  3. A branch of technology focusing on the manipulation of matter at scales smaller than 100 nanometers to develop new materials and devices ; a field investigating the properties and applications of nanosized particles and structures for innovation across multiple industries ; the science dedicated to building and studying objects at the nanometer scale to harness quantum and molecular effects in practical uses

Etymology: "Nanotech" is a plain compound: "nano-" joined to "tech," short for "technology." The prefix "nano-" comes from the Greek "nanos," meaning "dwarf," and in modern science it denotes a factor of one billionth, so a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Attaching it to "tech" gives a label for work done at that scale, rather than a term for a single machine or material. The word therefore names a whole field rather than an object. Its meaning covers the manipulation of matter below 100 nanometers to build new materials and devices, and the study of how particles and structures at that size behave and can be applied across many industries. Because the prefix is a scientific unit taken from classical Greek, the compound is a modern formation, built from parts that were never combined in antiquity.

Synonyms: nanotechnology, molecular technology, nanoengineering, nanoscience