two-to-the-N

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

two-to-the-N
 quant.

   An amount much larger than {N} but smaller than {infinity}. "I have
   2-to-the-N things to do before I can go out for lunch" means you
   probably won't show up.

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

two-to-the-N

   An amount much larger than {N} but smaller than {infinity}.
   "I have 2-to-the-N things to do before I can go out for lunch"
   means you probably won't show up.

   Numbers of the form two-to-the-N are very important in
   computing because they represent the value of bit N of a
   binary number (counting from 0) and the number of things you
   can count with an N bit number.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1994-12-06)