em-

¹ American  

1. variant of en- before b, p, and sometimes m:

   embalm.

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em- ² American  

1. variant of en- before b, m, p, ph:

   embolism, emphasis.

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em ³ American  

[em] / ɛm /

noun

plural

ems

1. the letter M, m.

2. Also called mut, mutton.  Printing.

   1. the square of any size of type used as the unit of measurement for matter printed in that type size.

   2. (originally) the portion of a line of type occupied by the letter M in type of the same size.

3. em pica.

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adjective

1. Printing. having the area of an em quad or the length of an em dash.

'em ⁴ American  

[uhm] / əm /

pronoun

Informal.

1. them.

   Put 'em down there.

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Em ⁵ American  

Symbol, Physical Chemistry.

1. emanation.

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EM ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic.

2. electromotive.

3. electronic mail.

4. electron microscope; electron microscopy.

5. end matched.

6. Engineer of Mines.

7. enlisted man; enlisted men.

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E.M. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Earl Marshal.

2. Engineer of Mines.

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em ¹ British  

/ ɛm /

noun

1. Also called: mutton.   mut.  the square of a body of any size of type, used as a unit of measurement

2. Also called: pica em.   pica.  a unit of measurement used in printing, equal to one sixth of an inch

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'em ² British  

/ əm /

pronoun

1. an informal variant of them

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em- ³ British  

prefix

1. before b, m, and p, a variant of en- 1 en- 2

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Etymology

Origin of em³

First recorded in 1860–65

Origin of 'em⁴

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hem, Old English heom, dative and accusative plural of he ¹

Example Sentences

“We haven’t had a game here in over a year. There’s no way we were gonna lose. It was a great atmosphere and we beat ’em by 50, so that’s pretty good.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Let’s take it to ’em everywhere in the United States.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“You run in and get ’em, will you?”

From Literature

The spike sent a chill through developed bond markets, but made EM look even more attractive.

From Barron's

The fact that two of the other nominated LPs — Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out” and Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia” — made it into album of the year suggests the race is probably as tight as it’s ever been.

From Los Angeles Times