U

1

or u

[ yoo ]

noun,plural U's or Us, u's or us.
  1. the 21st letter of the English alphabet, a vowel.

  2. any spoken sound represented by the letter U or u, as in music, rule, curious, put, or jug.

  1. something having the shape of a U.

  2. a written or printed representation of the letter U or u.

  3. a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter U or u.

Other definitions for U (2 of 9)

U2
[ yoo ]

pronounInformal.
  1. you: Shoes Fixed While U Wait.

Origin of U

2
First recorded in 1840–45

Other definitions for U (3 of 9)

U3
[ yoo ]

adjectiveInformal.
  1. characteristic of or appropriate to the upper class, especially of Great Britain.

Origin of U

3
First recorded in 1950–55; u(pper class)

Other definitions for U (4 of 9)

U4
[ oo ]

noun
  1. a Burmese title of respect applicable to a man: used before the proper name.

Origin of U

4
First recorded in 1930–35; from Burmese ʔú, roughly “Mister, Uncle,” used for senior men and monks

Other definitions for U (5 of 9)

U5

Symbol.
  1. (on a packaged product) certified as kosher by the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.

  2. the 21st in order or in a series.

  1. Chemistry. uranium.

  2. Biochemistry. uracil.

  3. Thermodynamics. internal energy.

  4. British. a designation for motion pictures determined as being acceptable for viewing by all age groups.: Compare A3 (def. 10), AA2 (def. 5), X3 (def. 9).

Other definitions for u. (6 of 9)

u.1

abbreviation
  1. and.

Origin of u.

6
From the German word und

Other definitions for u. (7 of 9)

u.2

abbreviation
  1. uniform.

  2. unit.

  1. unsatisfactory.

  2. upper.

Other definitions for U. (8 of 9)

U.1

abbreviation
  1. and.

Origin of U.

8
From the German word und

Other definitions for U. (9 of 9)

U.2

abbreviation
  1. uncle.

  2. uniform.

  1. union.

  2. unit.

  3. united.

  4. university.

  5. unsatisfactory.

  6. upper.

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

How to use U in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for u (1 of 4)

u

U

/ (juː) /


nounplural u's, U's or Us
  1. the 21st letter and fifth vowel of the modern English alphabet

  2. any of several speech sounds represented by this letter, in English as in mute, cut, hurt, sure, pull, or minus

    • something shaped like a U

    • (in combination): a U-bolt; a U-turn

British Dictionary definitions for U (2 of 4)

U1

symbol for
  1. united

  2. unionist

  1. university

  2. (in Britain)

    • universal (used to describe a category of film certified as suitable for viewing by anyone)

    • (as modifier): a U film

  3. chem uranium

  4. biochem uracil

abbreviation for
  1. text messaging you

adjective
  1. British old-fashioned, informal (esp of language habits) characteristic of or appropriate to the upper class: Compare non-U

British Dictionary definitions for U (3 of 4)

U2

/ () /


noun
  1. a Burmese title of respect for men, equivalent to Mr

British Dictionary definitions for U. (4 of 4)

U.

abbreviation for
  1. maths union

  2. unit

  1. united

  2. university

  3. upper

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for U

U

  1. Abbreviation of uracil

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.