mega

SI prefix meaning 10 to the 6th power (10⁶ or 10^6). Abbreviation is M.

In computer science terminology, often redefined from the SI prefix definition of 10^6 to a convenient binary number, 2^20, which is approximately one million.

To resolve the confusion with 1024 * 1024 in data processing, in December 1998 the International Electrotechnical Commission created new prefixes for binary multiples (q.v. for fuller explanation).

In brief: kibi is 1024, mebi is 1 048 576, then gibi, tebi, pebi, ebi. Their symbols have a capital letter then i: thus KiB = kibibyte, MiB = mebibyte, GiB = gibibyte, etc.

mega- /me'g*/ pref.

[SI] See quantifiers.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.

Meg- (?), Meg"a (?), Meg"a*lo- (?). [Gr. me`gas, gen. mega`loy, great.]

Combining forms signifying: (a) Great, extended, powerful; as, megascope, megacosm.

A million times, a million of; as, megameter, a million meters; megafarad, a million farads; megohm, a million ohms

© Webster 1913.