au

¹ American  

[oh] / oʊ /

French.

plural

aux

1. to the; at the; with the.

---

Au ² American  

abbreviation

1. author. Also au

---

Au ³ American  

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. gold.

---

AU ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. astronomical unit.

---

A.U. ⁵ American  

Or a.u.

abbreviation

1. angstrom unit.

---

Au ¹ British  

symbol

1. gold

---

au ² British  

abbreviation

1. Australia

---

AU ³ British  

abbreviation

1. African Union

2. Also: a.u..  angstrom unit

3. Also: a.u..  astronomical unit

---

AU Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of astronomical unit

---

Etymology

Origin of Au

From the Latin word aurum

Example Sentences

Two men and two women, whose identities have not been released, died while trying to board a water taxi off the coast of Saint Etienne au Mont, near Calais.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

One of the few au courant innovations on “What’s in the Box?” involves surveillance: As one couple answers questions, the camera eavesdrops on the conversations among their competition, which can range from catty to worse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

Here he is the 1919 go-between for Esther Nacht, a 14-year-old Jewish refugee whom he places with the Winslow family as an au pair.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2025

Coquilles Saint-Jacques is essentially a frou-frou description for scallops au gratin, more often prepared as a casserole than in those magical shells which are harder to find these days.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

"My family's been in Louisiana for decades and my mother has French blood, believe it or not. My skin might look like coffee-no-cream, but I've got some au lait in here somewhere."

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins