ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pico

det.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈpikoʊ// pi·co

det. a prefix used in science and math to mean one trillionth of something. It describes a very tiny measurement, like a tiny fraction of a second.

det. a unit prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of 10 to the power of -12, or one trillionth. Derived from the Spanish word for 'little bit', it is used primarily in scientific and engineering contexts.


SIMPLE

The computer chip processes data in pico seconds.

CONTEXTUAL

Engineers measured the electrical charge in picocoulombs to ensure the sensitive equipment would not malfunction.

COMPLEX

In modern physics, measuring intervals at the pico scale requires specialized lasers capable of emitting pulses that last only a trillionth of a second.

Usage

Always used as a prefix attached to a unit of measurement (e.g., picofarad, picogram, picometer).

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