nanomachine en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek νᾶνος (nânos)bor. Latin nānusbor. English nano- Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-der.? Ancient Greek μηχᾰνή (mēkhănḗ) Doric Greek μᾱχᾰνᾱ́ (mākhănā́)bor. Latin māchinabor. Middle French machinebor. English machine English nanomachine From nano- + machine.
Meanings
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Any mechanical device, manufactured using nanotechnology, having a scale measured in nanometres.
There are many terrifying possibilities for nanotechnology; military nanomachines could infiltrate human bodies and systematically tear them apart using the same principles medical nanomachines will use to repair them. An uncontrolled nanomachine designed to replicate itself could lead to the "grey goo" scenario that once panicked Prince Charles.
2010 September 2, Thomas Barfield, “Get ready for a world of nanotechnology”, in The Guardian:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| nanomachines | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (3)
fr nanomachine (Translations) · es nanomáquina (Translations) · it nanomacchina (Translations)