em

[ em ]

noun,plural ems.

the letter M, m.
Also called mut, mutton. Printing.
- the square of any size of type used as the unit of measurement for matter printed in that type size.
- (originally) the portion of a line of type occupied by the letter M in type of the same size.

em pica.

adjective

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

Origin of em

First recorded in 1860–65

Other definitions for 'em (2 of 7)

'em

[ uhm ]

pronounInformal.

them: Put 'em down there.

Origin of 'em

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hem, Old English heom, dative and accusative plural of he¹

Other definitions for Em (3 of 7)

Symbol, Physical Chemistry.

emanation (def. 3).

Other definitions for EM (4 of 7)

abbreviation

electronic mail.
electron microscope; electron microscopy.
end matched.
Engineer of Mines.
enlisted man; enlisted men.

Other definitions for em- (5 of 7)

em-¹

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

Compare im-¹.

Other definitions for em- (6 of 7)

em-²

variant of en-² before b, m, p, ph:embolism, emphasis.

Other definitions for E.M. (7 of 7)

E.M.

abbreviation

Earl Marshal.
Engineer of Mines.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use em in a sentence

Barnes quotes E.M. Forster: “One death may explain itself, but it throws no light upon another.”
‘One Relishes the Pain’: Julian Barnes’ Memoir of Grief | Adam Begley | September 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Red Squadby E.M. Broner An octogenarian feminist channels her youth in this deft mystery.
The Daily Beast Recommends | The Daily Beast | May 5, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Under the most favourable circumstances its specific resistance may approach 1024 E.M. units.
On Laboratory Arts | Richard Threlfall
But it makes a lot of difference to E.M. Pierce, and he can make it a lot of difference to us.
The Clarion | Samuel Hopkins Adams
It is edited by E.M. Thompson in the same volume as Murimuth.
The History of England | T.F. Tout

All storm signals set, and E.M.'s secretary telephoning that the Great Man wants to see you at once.
The Clarion | Samuel Hopkins Adams
How many readers care whether E.M. Pierce's daughter ran over a woman or not?
The Clarion | Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for em (1 of 3)

/ (ɛm) /

nounprinting

Also called: mutton, mut the square of a body of any size of type, used as a unit of measurement
Also called: pica em, pica a unit of measurement used in printing, equal to one sixth of an inch

Origin of em

C19: from the name of the letter M

British Dictionary definitions for 'em (2 of 3)

'em

/ (əm) /

pronoun

an informal variant of them

British Dictionary definitions for em- (3 of 3)

em-

prefix

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

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

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