MEGATON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does megaton mean? 

• MEGATON (noun)
  The noun MEGATON has 2 senses:

1. a measure of explosive power (of an atomic weapon) equal to that of one million tons of TNT

2. one million tons

  Familiarity information: MEGATON used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MEGATON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A measure of explosive power (of an atomic weapon) equal to that of one million tons of TNT

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("megaton" is a kind of...):

explosive unit (any unit for measuring the force of explosions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

One million tons

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("megaton" is a kind of...):

avoirdupois unit (any of the units of the avoirdupois system of weights)

Meronyms (parts of "megaton"):

kiloton (one thousand tons)

 Context examples 

The blast, which was later attributed to a comet or asteroid fragment, is generally estimated to have been about 10 megatons.

(Dangerous Asteroid Could Hit Earth At Any Moment, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)