See Also: membranella(dictionary)

billion (iou) and membranella (iou)


billion (iou)



billion noun & adjective. L17.
[French, formed as MILLION by substitution of BI-.]
A. noun. Pl. same with specified number, -s when indefinite.
A million million, 1012. Cf. TRILLION. (Now only in British popular use.) L17.
A thousand million, 109; in pl. (without specifying word), several billions, very large numbers. M19.
b. adjective. After an article, possessive, etc.: a million times a million (now only in British popular use); a thousand times a million; hyperbol. a very great many. After a numeral or quantifier: multiples of a billion. M20.
billio'naire noun [after MILLIONAIRE] a person possessing a thousand million dollars etc. M19.
billionth adjective & noun (a) adjective one thousand (or million) millionth; (b) noun a billionth part; the billionth person or thing: L18.

membranella (iou)



membranella noun. . L19.
[mod. Latin, dim. of Latin membrana MEMBRANE.]
Zoology. In some ciliates, a long flattened locomotory organ formed from fused cilia.