adverb
Common intensifier used before adjectives, verbs, and nouns. Often translates to 'very' or 'quite', but can also mean 'extremely' depending on context.
この問題はごく簡単だ。
This problem is very easy.
ごく普通の一日だった。
It was a very ordinary day.
numeric
10^48; quindecillion
Only when written 極
A numeric unit meaning 10^48 (quindecillion in the short scale). Rarely used outside mathematical or historical contexts.
極は10の48乗を表す単位だ。
極 is a unit representing 10 to the 48th power.
Derived from the kanji 極 meaning 'extreme' or 'utmost'. The adverbial use developed from the idea of reaching the limit.