Q

¹

or q

[ kyoo ]

noun

, plural Q's or Qs, q's or qs.

1. the 17th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant.
2. any spoken sound represented by the letter Q or q, as in quick, acquit, or Iraq.
3. something having the shape of a Q .
4. a written or printed representation of the letter Q or q.
5. a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter Q or q.

q.

²

abbreviation for

1. farthing.

Q

³

abbreviation for

1. quarterly.
2. Chess. queen ( def 6 ).

q.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. quart; quarts.
2. query.
3. question.
4. quintal.
5. quire.

Q

⁵

Symbol.

1. the 17th in order or in a series.
2. (sometimes lowercase) the medieval Roman numeral for 500. Compare Roman numerals.
3. Biochemistry. glutamine ( def ).
4. Physics. heat ( def 7 ).
5. Thermodynamics. a unit of heat energy, equal to 10 18 British thermal units (1.055 × 10 21 joules).
6. Also called Q-factor. Electronics. the ratio of the reactance to the resistance of an electric circuit or component.
7. Biblical Criticism. the symbol for material common to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke that was not derived from the Gospel of Mark.

Q.

⁶

abbreviation for

1. quarto.
2. Quebec.
3. Queen.
4. question.
5. (in Guatemala) quetzal; quetzals.

Q.

¹

abbreviation for

1. quartermaster
2. Alsoq Qqqq quarto
3. Queen
4. question

q

²

symbol for

1. quintal

q

³

/ kjuː /

noun

1. the 17th letter and 13th consonant of the modern English alphabet
2. a speech sound represented by this letter, in English usually a voiceless velar stop, as in unique and quick

q.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. quart
2. quarter
3. quarterly

Q

⁵

symbol for

1. chess queen
2. question
3. physics heat

abbreviation for

1. text messaging queue

Word History and Origins

Origin of Q¹

From the Latin word quadrāns

Idioms and Phrases

see mind one's p's and q's .

Example Sentences

Q: What was your sensation when they were pouring water... what did you physically feel?

From The Daily Beast

Chat live with Drew and Jonathan Scott right here on The Daily Beast during a Live Q&A on Tuesday, December 16 from 2pm-3pm.

From The Daily Beast

Camille Hammond, CEO of Tinina Q Cade Foundation, said simply that the pathways to parenthood are different.

From The Daily Beast

During a Q&A with PrideSource magazine a couple of weeks ago, she was asked if she thought Beyoncé was a feminist.

From The Daily Beast

“Ice Cube and Schoolboy Q.” Osorio seems dumfounded by the decision.

From The Daily Beast

Q was a Queen, who wore a silk slip; R was a Robber, and wanted a whip.

From Project Gutenberg

The reading of the Q., however, is quite intelligible,taking overthrown in the sense of thrown too strongly.

From Project Gutenberg

The block is then fastened to the base under and parallel with the shaft carrying the disk Q, as shown.

From Project Gutenberg

The conduct of the war was now delegated to Q. Ccilius Metellus, by whom it was soon after brought to a successful termination.

From Project Gutenberg

Q were groaning on the ground, and the Captain was detailing men to carry them back to where the Surgeon had established himself.

From Project Gutenberg