billion

noun

bil·lion ˈbi(l)-yən How to pronounce billion (audio)

US : a number equal to 1,000 million see Table of Numbers

also, British : a number equal to 1,000 milliard see Table of Numbers

: a very large number

billion adjective

billionth

ˈbi(l)-yən(t)th How to pronounce billion (audio)

adjective or noun

Did you know?

How much is a billion? It might depend on whom you ask. Billion was borrowed from French in the late 1600s to indicate the number one million raised to the power of two, or a million million—a number represented by a 1 followed by 12 zeros. However, the French later changed their naming conventions so that a billion became a thousand million (a 1 followed by 9 zeros) and a trillion became a thousand thousand million (or a million million, the old billion). The French have since returned to the older system, but it was this new system that was adopted by American English speakers in the 1800s. In Britain, the newer system has seen increasing use since the 1950s, but the older sense is still sometimes used there as well.

Example Sentences

We could see a billion stars in the sky.

Recent Examples on the Web The very act of giving bullhorns to billions is both a boon and a menace.

Steven Levy, Wired, 29 May 2020 For industry, that line item may seem minor in the context of a project that could cost hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars.

Gordon Russell, ProPublica, 19 Dec. 2019 Federal relief arrives, but state cuts loom The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed last month included billions in aid for higher education.

Jennifer Smola, Cincinnati.com, 26 Apr. 2020 And with billions of stamps sold, that could be a very large number.

Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 6 July 2018 The missed funding comes as the state Department of Workforce Development reported the state fund that will cover that $25 million and billions more in unemployment payments could be depleted as early as October.

Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2020 By 2070, billions could be living in a climate currently found only in a select few places, like Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where the average temperature is 86 F (30 C).

NBC News, 6 May 2020 The stakes are immense with the coronavirus sickening more than 3 million people, even as billions hide from the pathogen indoors.

James Paton, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020 Now, the federal government could have to fork up billions to health insurers who attempt to collect the money they're owed.

Ashley Shaffer, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2020 See More

单词	billion
释义	billion noun bil·lion ˈbi(l)-yən 1 US : a number equal to 1,000 million see Table of Numbers also, British : a number equal to 1,000 milliard see Table of Numbers 2 : a very large number billion adjective billionth ˈbi(l)-yən(t)th adjective or noun Did you know? How much is a billion? It might depend on whom you ask. Billion was borrowed from French in the late 1600s to indicate the number one million raised to the power of two, or a million million—a number represented by a 1 followed by 12 zeros. However, the French later changed their naming conventions so that a billion became a thousand million (a 1 followed by 9 zeros) and a trillion became a thousand thousand million (or a million million, the old billion). The French have since returned to the older system, but it was this new system that was adopted by American English speakers in the 1800s. In Britain, the newer system has seen increasing use since the 1950s, but the older sense is still sometimes used there as well. Example Sentences We could see a billion stars in the sky. Recent Examples on the Web The very act of giving bullhorns to billions is both a boon and a menace. Steven Levy, Wired, 29 May 2020 For industry, that line item may seem minor in the context of a project that could cost hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars. Gordon Russell, ProPublica, 19 Dec. 2019 Federal relief arrives, but state cuts loom The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed last month included billions in aid for higher education. Jennifer Smola, Cincinnati.com, 26 Apr. 2020 And with billions of stamps sold, that could be a very large number. Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 6 July 2018 The missed funding comes as the state Department of Workforce Development reported the state fund that will cover that $25 million and billions more in unemployment payments could be depleted as early as October. Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2020 By 2070, billions could be living in a climate currently found only in a select few places, like Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where the average temperature is 86 F (30 C). NBC News, 6 May 2020 The stakes are immense with the coronavirus sickening more than 3 million people, even as billions hide from the pathogen indoors. James Paton, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020 Now, the federal government could have to fork up billions to health insurers who attempt to collect the money they're owed. Ashley Shaffer, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2020 See More Word History Etymology French, from bi- + -illion (as in million) First Known Use 1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing billion never/not in a thousand/million/billion years never/not in a thousand/million/billion years Kids Definition billion noun bil·lion ˈbil-yən 1 : a thousand millions 2 : a very large number billions of stars
随便看	tumulting tumults tumultuary tumultuate tumultuated tumultuates tumultuating tumultuation tumultuations tumultuous tumultuously tumultuousness tumultuousnesses tumulus tumuluses tun tun of gold tun shell tuna tuna clipper tuna mayonnaise tunabilities tunability tunable tunableness

billion

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing billion

Kids Definition

noun