1. The plural of duodecillion; the number represented by 1 followed by 39 zeros in the short scale (U.S. and modern British), or 1 followed by 72 zeros in the long scale (traditional British and European).
Usage: mathematics; The short scale (10^39) is standard in U.S. English and modern usage.; The long scale (10^72) is used in some European countries and older British texts.

Examples

• A duodecillion is an astronomically large number used mainly in theoretical mathematics.
• The physicist explained that the number of possible quantum states could reach into the duodecillions.
• In the short scale, a duodecillion equals 10 to the 39th power.
• Duodecillions are rarely encountered outside advanced mathematical or cosmological discussions.