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un

1 American  
[uhn] / ən /
Or 'un

pronoun

Dialect.
  1. one.

    young uns; He's a bad un.


UN 2 American  
Or U.N.

abbreviation

  1. United Nations.


un- 3 American  
  1. a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative or opposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns (unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able ), and less freely used in certain other nouns (unrest; unemployment ).


un- 4 American  
  1. a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. (unbend; uncork; unfasten , etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning (unloose ).


un- 1 British  

prefix

  1. denoting reversal of an action or state

    uncover

    untangle

  2. denoting removal from, release, or deprivation

    unharness

    unman

    unthrone

  3. (intensifier)

    unloose

"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

UN 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. United Nations

"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

'un 3 British  
/ ən /

pronoun

  1. a spelling of one

    that's a big 'un

"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

un- 4 British  

prefix

  1. (freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns) not; contrary to; opposite of

    uncertain

    uncomplaining

    unemotionally

    untidiness

    unbelief

    unrest

    untruth

"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

Usage

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

Related Words

See in- 3.

Etymology

Origin of un-3

Middle English un-, on-, Old English; cognate with Dutch on-, Gothic, German un-, Old Norse ū-, ō-; akin to Latin in-, Greek an-, a-. See a- 6, an- 1, in- 3

Origin of un-4

Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-, Dutch ont-, German ent-; akin to Latin ante, Greek antí; ante-, anti-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Last year a group of researchers from Nasa, the University of Plymouth and University of Texas called on the UN to include the protection of Earth's orbit in its sustainable development goals.

From BBC

Calling the findings "truly horrific", UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she would take the report's conclusions to the UN Security Council on Thursday.

From BBC

"The scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the operation by the senior Rapid Support Forces leadership point to a planned and organised operation executed through an established hierarchy and structure, rather than isolated acts," the UN mission said.

From BBC

It also says that despite their best efforts, the UN mission did not receive cooperation from Sudanese authorities.

From BBC

Abu Dhabi's role came under increased scrutiny after the el-Fasher massacre, but there was no public pressure on the Emiratis from the UN, the US or the UK.

From BBC