y
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Symbol, Mathematics.
an unknown quantity.
(in Cartesian coordinates) the y-axis.
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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Other definitions for y (2 of 10)
Y1
or y
[ wahy ]
/ waɪ /
noun, plural Y's or Ys, y's or ys.
the 25th letter of the English alphabet, a semivowel.
any spoken sound represented by the letter Y or y, as in yet, city, or rhythm.
something having the shape of a Y.
a written or printed representation of the letter Y or y.
a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter Y or y.
Other definitions for y (3 of 10)
Y2
[ wahy ]
/ waɪ /
abbreviation
the Y, Informal. the YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, or YWHA.
Other definitions for y (4 of 10)
Other definitions for y (5 of 10)
Other definitions for y (6 of 10)
y-
a prefix occurring in certain obsolete words (ywis) and especially in archaic past participles: yclad.
Also i- .
Origin of y-
Middle English y-, i- (reduced variant a-), Old English ge-, prefix with perfective, intensifying, or collective force; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon ge-, gi-,Gothic ga-,German ge-; compare perhaps Latin com-com-
Other definitions for y (7 of 10)
-y1
a native English suffix of adjectives meaning “characterized by or inclined to” the substance or action of the word or stem to which the suffix is attached: juicy; grouchy; rumbly; dreamy. Sometimes used to mean “allowing, fostering, or bringing about” the specified action: sippy.
Also -ey1.
Origin of -y
1Old English -ig; cognate with German -ig; compare perhaps Latin -icus, Greek -ikos
Other definitions for y (8 of 10)
-y2
a noun-forming suffix with a variety of functions in contemporary English, added to monosyllabic bases to create words that are almost always informal. Its earliest use, probably still productive, was to form endearing or familiar names or common nouns from personal names, other nouns, and adjectives (Billy; Susie; birdie; doggie; granny; sweetie; tummy). The hypocoristic feature is absent in recent coinages, however, which are simply informal and sometimes pejorative (boonies; cabby; groupie; hippy; looie; Okie; preemie; preppy; rookie). Another function of -y2 (-ie ) is the formation from adjectives of nouns that denote exemplary or extreme instances of the quality named by the adjective (baddie; biggie; cheapie; toughie), sometimes focusing on a restricted, usually unfavorable sense of the adjective (sharpie; sickie; whitey). A few words in which the informal character of -y2 (-ie ) has been lost are now standard in formal written English (goalie; movie).
Also -ie .
Other definitions for y (9 of 10)
-y3
a suffix of various origins used in the formation of action nouns from verbs (inquiry), also found in other abstract nouns: carpentry; infamy.
Origin of -y
3Representing Latin -ia, -ium;Greek -ia, -eia, -ion;French -ie;German -ie
Other definitions for y (10 of 10)
y.
abbreviation
yard; yards.
year; years.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use y in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for y (1 of 8)
y
Y
/ (waɪ) /
noun plural y's, Y's or Ys
the 25th letter of the modern English alphabet
a speech sound represented by this letter, in English usually a semivowel, as in yawn, or a vowel, as in symbol or shy
- something shaped like a Y
- (in combination)a Y-cross
British Dictionary definitions for y (2 of 8)
y
/ maths /
symbol for
the y- axis or a coordinate measured along the y- axis in a Cartesian coordinate system
an algebraic variable
British Dictionary definitions for y (3 of 8)
Y
symbol for
any unknown, unspecified, or variable factor, number, person, or thing
chem yttrium
currency
- yen
- yuan
British Dictionary definitions for y (4 of 8)
-y1
-ey
suffix forming adjectives
(from nouns) characterized by; consisting of; filled with; relating to; resemblingsunny; sandy; smoky; classy
(from verbs) tending to; acting or existing as specifiedleaky; shiny
Word Origin for -y
from Old English -ig, -ǣg
British Dictionary definitions for y (5 of 8)
-y2
-ie or -ey
suffix informal
denoting smallness and expressing affection and familiaritya doggy; a granny; Jamie
a person or thing concerned with or characterized by beinga groupie; a fatty
Word Origin for -y
C14: from Scottish -ie, -y, familiar suffix occurring originally in names, as in Jamie (James)
British Dictionary definitions for y (6 of 8)
-y3
suffix forming nouns
(from verbs) indicating the act of doing what is indicated by the verbal elementinquiry
(esp with combining forms of Greek, Latin, or French origin) indicating state, condition, or qualitygeography; jealousy
Word Origin for -y
from Old French -ie, from Latin -ia
British Dictionary definitions for y (7 of 8)
y.
abbreviation for
year
British Dictionary definitions for y (8 of 8)
Y.
abbreviation for
YMCA or YWCA
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 y
Y
The symbol for yttrium.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.