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• emu
  emu

  noun

  a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu (Dromaius ) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.
• EMU
  EMU

  Also electromagnetic unit.
• e.m.u.
  e.m.u.

  abbreviation

  electromagnetic unit

emu

¹ American  

[ee-myoo] / ˈi myu /

noun

1. a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu (Dromaius ) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.

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EMU ² American  

1. Also electromagnetic unit.

2. Aerospace. extravehicular mobility unit.

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emu ¹ British  

/ ˈiːmjuː /

noun

1. a large Australian flightless bird, Dromaius novaehollandiae, similar to the ostrich but with three-toed feet and grey or brown plumage: order Casuariiformes See also ratite

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e.m.u. ² British  

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic unit

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EMU ³ British  

abbreviation

1. European Monetary Union

2. Economic and Monetary Union

3. See e.m.u.

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EMU Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of electromagnetic unit

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Etymology

Origin of emu

1605–15; earlier emeu (in earliest E source emia, eme ), ultimately < Portuguese ema, attested in 1541 as a name for the cassowary (further origin obscure); the replacement of -a by -eu, etc., is unexplained

Explanation

An emu is a very large, flightless bird that is only slightly shorter than its close relative, the ostrich. You're likely to see emus if you travel around their native continent of Australia. Emus reign as the biggest bird in Australia, growing to a height of six feet or more as adults. These long-legged birds have soft brown feathers and relatively small wings that they flap as they run (sometimes sprinting at 30 miles per hour), though sadly, they're unable to take flight. Etymologists guess that emu comes from the Portuguese word for "ostrich," ema.

Example Sentences

The study forms part of the Emu special issue on threats to Australian birds.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2024

The new tools are an advancement of the parent model Emu that generates images in response to text prompts.

From Reuters • Nov. 16, 2023

Besides the joy of hatching such an exotic animal, 3 Feathers Emu Ranch and Farm keeps the birds for a product Citrhyn describes as “miraculous.”

From Seattle Times • May 5, 2022

Most of the people encamped on the banks of Mount Emu Creek were of the Tarnbeere gundidj clan, members of the Djargurd wurrung language group.

From The Guardian • Mar. 22, 2019

She was sorry for the Emu, so bereaved and so deluded, dancing his fruitless, lamentable dance.

From The Combined Maze by Sinclair, May