| 释义 |
bazillion, a. and n. colloq. (orig. and chiefly N. Amer.).
Brit. |bəˈzɪljən|, U.S. |bəˈzɪlj(ə)n|
[Apparently alteration of billion n. Compare slightly later zillion n., and also gazillion n. and adj.]
A. adj. (attrib.). With an article, number, or other quantifier, and followed by a plural noun: amounting to a very large (but indefinite) number or quantity.
1939N.Y. Times 20 June 15 (advt.) I have forty six bazillion tiny holes in my shirt to cool me off. 1986N.Y. Times (Nexis) 21 Aug. a20/6 There are a bazillion forms, and the Government is known to be slow paying. 1994Boston Herald (Nexis) 21 July 12 That is literally how I got involved in 50 bazillion organizations. 1996Denver Post 22 Sept. a2/1 The high-profile Colorado couple..mailed out a bazillion postcards.
B. n. A very large (but indefinite) number or quantity (of something); chiefly in pl. Also, following a quantifier, as a collective plural.
1986R. L. Chapman New Dict. Amer. Slang 18/2 Bazillion, a very large number; a zillion. 1990Record (Bergen County, New Jersey) (Nexis) 10 June l9 The savings-and-loan industry bailout, which as of yesterday was expected to cost taxpayers $752.6 trillion skillion, is now expected to cost $964.3 hillion jillion bazillion, not including the Christmas party. 1998Columbian (Vancouver) 12 July a1 ‘There are bazillions of gigabytes of information’ on the Internet, Tweet said. |