gigaton
nounEtymology From giga- + ton.
1
A measure of the strength of an explosion or a bomb based on how many billion tons of TNT would be needed to produce the same energy. (A derived unit for TNT equivalent.)
- Holonyms: teraton < petaton < exaton (rare) < zettaton (rare) < yottaton (rare)
- Meronyms: ton of TNT < kiloton < megaton
› One billion tons.
2
One billion short tons (10⁹ × 2000 lb).
3
One billion long tons (10⁹ × 2240 lb).
4
One billion metric tons (10⁹ × 2204.6 lb).
- Meronyms: kiloton < megaton