Source : WordNet®

nanotechnology
     n : the branch of engineering that deals with things smaller
         than 100 nanometers (especially with the manipulation of
         individual molecules)

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

nanotechnology
     
        /nan'-oh-tek-no"l*-jee/ Any fabrication technology in which
        objects are designed and built by the specification and
        placement of individual atoms or molecules or where at least
        one dimension is on a scale of {nanometers}.
     
        The first unequivocal nanofabrication experiments took place
        in 1990, for example with the deposition of individual xenon
        atoms on a nickel substrate to spell the logo of a certain
        very large computer company.
     
        Nanotechnology has been a hot topic in the hacker subculture
        ever since the term was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his book
        "Engines of Creation", where he predicted that nanotechnology
        could give rise to replicating assemblers, permitting an
        exponential growth of productivity and personal wealth.
     
        See also {nanobot}.
     
        {(http://www.lucifer.com/~sean/Nano.html)}.
     
        (2003-05-02)