eta

[ ey-tuh, ee-tuh ]

noun
  1. the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet (H, η).

  2. the vowel sound represented by this letter.

Origin of eta

1
<Greek êta; compare Hebrew ḥethheth

Words Nearby eta

Other definitions for E.T.A. (2 of 2)

E.T.A.

abbreviation
  1. estimated time of arrival.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use eta in a sentence

  • If there had been astronomers in the southern hemisphere eta Hydri would certainly have been their pole-star.

    Myths and Marvels of Astronomy | Richard A. Proctor
  • The reader should note that the point overhead in this map is not far from the star eta (η) in Hercules.

    Astronomy with an Opera-glass | Garrett Putman Serviss

British Dictionary definitions for eta (1 of 4)

eta1

/ (ˈiːtə) /


noun
  1. the seventh letter in the Greek alphabet (Η, η), a long vowel sound, transliterated as e or ē

Origin of eta

1
Greek, of Phoenician origin; compare Hebrew heth

British Dictionary definitions for eta (2 of 4)

eta2

/ (ˈeɪtə) /


nounplural eta or etas
  1. (in Japan, formerly) a member of a class of outcasts who did menial and dirty tasks

Origin of eta

2
C19: Japanese

British Dictionary definitions for ETA (3 of 4)

ETA1

abbreviation for
  1. estimated time of arrival

British Dictionary definitions for ETA (4 of 4)

ETA2

/ (ˈɛtə) /


n acronym for
  1. Euzkadi ta Askatsuna: an organization of militant Basque nationalists attempting to gain independence for the Basques, esp those ruled by Spain, until a ceasefire in 1998, by means of guerrilla warfare

Origin of ETA

4
Basque, literally: Basque Nation and Liberty

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