1. Plural of picometre; units of length equal to one trillionth of a metre (10⁻¹² m), used in physics and chemistry to measure atomic and subatomic distances.
Usage: Also spelled 'picometers' in U.S. English; Commonly used in scientific and technical contexts

Examples

• The diameter of a hydrogen atom is approximately 100 picometres.
• Atomic bonds are typically measured in picometres.
• X-ray crystallography can resolve structures at the picometre scale.
• The wavelength of gamma rays is on the order of picometres.
• Scientists use picometres to describe the size of atomic nuclei.