y
an unknown quantity.
(in Cartesian coordinates) the y-axis.
Other definitions for Y (2 of 10)
or y
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)
the Y, Informal. the YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, or YWHA.
Other definitions for Y (4 of 10)
Other definitions for Y (5 of 10)
the 25th in order or in a series.
(sometimes lowercase) the medieval Roman numeral for 150.: Compare Roman numerals.
Electricity. admittance (def. 4). : Sometimes y
Chemistry. yttrium.
Biochemistry. tyrosine.
Other definitions for y- (6 of 10)
a prefix occurring in certain obsolete words (ywis) and especially in archaic past participles: yclad.
Origin of y-
6- Also i- .
Other definitions for -y (7 of 10)
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.
Origin of -y
7- Also -ey1.
Other definitions for -y (8 of 10)
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).
Origin of -y
8- Also -ie .
Other definitions for -y (9 of 10)
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
9Other definitions for y. (10 of 10)
yard; yards.
year; years.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use y in a sentence
Why do you think you were “an asperg-y movie fan…a jabbering repellent acolyte?”
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTLyricist E. y. “Yip” Harburg was as provocative as Hammerstein, though with a much less earnest, more whimsical sensibility.
When Broadway Musicals Were Dark And Subversive | Laurence Maslon | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTVery bass-y house, if I was in my element and playing what I like to play.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle | Marlow Stern | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWith the freedom of doing that, we were able to do a non-human, flip-y thing.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth | Alex Suskind | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI was like, “In what world do I look like I would play the WASP-y wife?”
Eliza Coupe Finds Her ‘Happy Ending’ With ‘Benched’ | Kevin Fallon | October 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If the "y" Beach lot press their advantage they may cut off the enemy troops on the toe of the Peninsula.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamiltony was a Youth, that did not love school; Z was a Zany, a poor harmless fool.
D'o l'on peut aussy veoir, quelle esperance il y a de planter une belle chrestient par tels evangelistes.
Ajoutez cecy, s'il vous plaist, la grande difficult qu'il y a de tirer d'eux les mots mesmes qu'ils ont.
Il n'y eut celuy de nous qui ne jugeast tel metheore prodigieux.
British Dictionary definitions for y (1 of 8)
Y
/ (waɪ) /
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)
/ maths /
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)
any unknown, unspecified, or variable factor, number, person, or thing
chem yttrium
currency
yen
yuan
British Dictionary definitions for -y (4 of 8)
(from nouns) characterized by; consisting of; filled with; relating to; resembling: sunny; sandy; smoky; classy
(from verbs) tending to; acting or existing as specified: leaky; shiny
Origin of -y
4British Dictionary definitions for -y (5 of 8)
denoting smallness and expressing affection and familiarity: a doggy; a granny; Jamie
a person or thing concerned with or characterized by being: a groupie; a fatty
Origin of -y
5British Dictionary definitions for -y (6 of 8)
(from verbs) indicating the act of doing what is indicated by the verbal element: inquiry
(esp with combining forms of Greek, Latin, or French origin) indicating state, condition, or quality: geography; jealousy
Origin of -y
6British Dictionary definitions for y. (7 of 8)
year
British Dictionary definitions for Y. (8 of 8)
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
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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