Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One billionth (10−9) of a second.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A measure of time equal to one billionth of a second. Abbreviation: ns

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun one billionth (10^-9) of a second; one thousandth of a microsecond

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

The SI prefix nano- +‎ second

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Examples

  • Dan, with all due respect, everyone knows a nanosecond is that magical time between when the locked cardoor leaves your fingertips and the instant your brain realizes that your keys are still in the switch ...

    Who will replace Van Blake? Dan 2007

  • ** Though a nanosecond has a technical definition as a millionth of a second, PT has always been partial to the folk definition: A nanosecond is the length of time between when the light in front of you goes green and the car behind you honks its horn.

    Who will replace Van Blake? Dan 2007

  • ** Though a nanosecond has a technical definition as a millionth of a second, PT has always been partial to the folk definition: A nanosecond is the length of time between when the light in front of you goes green and the car behind you honks its horn.

    Archive 2007-03-01 Dan 2007

  • Half a nanosecond is my guess as to what would be a truthful answer.

    Archive 2009-03-01 2009

  • Saves me like nanoseconds in time, but still, a nanosecond is a nanosecond.

    badbadzoot Diary Entry badbadzoot 2006

  • "He professed no alarm about bad news from Iraq, saying that recent trends (such as a spike in killings) were just a 'nanosecond' in historical terms."

    A NANOSECOND THAT'S LASTED NEARLY SIX YEARS...President Bush's Cheapening of Human Loss Is Terrifying 2006

  • At the last "nanosecond," Derek Parsons said, he looked up.

    Freep.com - RSS 2010

  • Gutterman , acknowledged that sometimes police have to make shooting judgments in a " nanosecond, " but added " this was just tunnel vision, contagious shooting.

    Ruling Over Stray Shots Sean Gardiner 2010

  • The Israeli government under PM Benjamin Netanyahu has not for a nanosecond reduced its commitment to peace.

    Yoav Sivan: Israel Procrastinates in Following Through on Its Commitments Yoav Sivan 2010

  • The nanosecond you receive deeply disconcerting news, pay attention to your reaction, and honor your upset.

    Dr. Cara Barker: Tapping Your Inner Strength in Troubling Times Dr. Cara Barker 2010

Comments

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  • 0,000 000 001 billionth of a second ("ns")

    May 17, 2008