picosecond

noun

pi·​co·​sec·​ond ˌpē-kō-ˈse-kənd 

-kənt

: one trillionth of a second

Examples of picosecond in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Optical atomic clocks, accurate to picoseconds, will enable satellite constellations and ground stations to determine satellites’ locations with centimeter-level precision—avoiding potentially catastrophic in-orbit collisions. —Paul Lipman, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024

This activity is highly non-linear so that a small change in initial conditions can be inconsequential or lead to huge differences in outcome over timescales ranging from picoseconds to hours or days. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024

Rapid switching is possible in principle (the laser should be able to switch in picoseconds), but that still has to be done in practice. —Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 17 May 2020

The technology emits short, picosecond laser pulses that break pigmented particles into fragments. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

The source sends simultaneous, picoseconds-long pulses of light in two directions. —Peter McMahon, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Nov. 2018

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for picosecond

• femtosecond
• microsecond
• millisecond
• nanosecond
• beckoned
• reckoned
• second
• seconde

Medical Definition

picosecond

noun

pi·​co·​sec·​ond ˈpē-kō-ˌsek-ənd, -ənt 

: one trillionth of a second

—abbreviation ps