trillion
trillion Lexical Profile
trillion Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The number equivalent to one thousand billion, or a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 10^12).
"The national budget deficit surpassed a trillion for the first time in the country's history."
Anunspecified, extremely large number or amount of something (often used in the plural).
"Astronomers estimate that there are trillions of stars scattered across the observable universe."
A triangular brilliant-cut gemstone having three equal or nearly equal sides.
"The custom ring featured an emerald center stone flanked by two sparkling diamond trillions."
• adjective
Amounting to one thousand billion (1,000,000,000,000) in number.
"The human body consists of roughly thirty trillion individual cells working together."
Extremely numerous; used hyperbolically to indicate a vast, uncountable quantity.
"I have told you a trillion times to remember your keys before locking the front door."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern international and American English (the short scale), a trillion equals one million million (10^12); in older British usage (the long scale), it formerly meant one million raised to the third power (10^18).
• Rhymes for trillion
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from French 'trillion', coined by mathematician Nicolas Chuquet from the Latin prefix 'tri-' (three) plus '-illion' (modeled on 'million').