giga-

prefix

Etymology: From Ancient Greek γίγας (gígas, “giant”); cognate to giant.

1. In the International System of Units and other metric systems of units, multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 10⁹ (short scale billion or long scale milliard).

   “giga- + watt → gigawatt ("one billion watts")”

2. Multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 2³⁰ or 1,073,741,824.
3. Augmenting an adjective; intensely, extremely, or to an exceptionally high degree.

   “Wow, I am giga-jealous right now.”

4. Used to augment nouns; denoting an invididual who is a paragon of something.

   “giga- + Chad → gigachad”

   “giga- + Stacy → gigastacy”