Tera

Tera (symbol: T) is a prefix in the SI system of units denoting 1012, or 1 000 000 000 000.

Related Topics:
Prefix - SI - 10¹²

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• TERA is the Topfree Equal Rights Association.
• tera is Tera (Australia).

Confirmed in 1960, it comes from the Greek τέρας, meaning monster. It also bears a resemblance to the Greek prefix τετρα- meaning four; the coincidence of it signifying the fourth power of 1000 served as a model for the higher-order prefixes peta, exa, zetta and yotta, all of which are deliberately distorted forms of the Latin or Greek roots for the corresponding powers (fifth to eighth respectively) of 1000.

Related Topics:
1960 - Greek - Peta - Exa - Zetta - Yotta - Latin

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In computer science tera- can sometimes mean 1 099 511 627 776 (240) instead of 1 000 000 000 000, especially in the term terabyte. To avoid this ambiguity, the binary prefix tebi- has been introduced to signify 240, but this, in common with the other binary prefixes, is not currently in general use.

Related Topics:
Computer science - Terabyte - Binary prefix

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Tera: See also ►