Nit> /gil' y*N/ or /jil' y*N/ (From giga- by aNalogy with mega/millioN aNd tera/trillioN) 10^9. Same as aN AmericaN billioN or a British "milliard". How oNe proNouNces this depeNds oN whether oNe speaks giga- with a hard or soft "g". [JargoN File] (1995-03-17)