em

[ em ]

/ ɛm /

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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.

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

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Origin of em

First recorded in 1860–65

Words nearby em

Elytis, elytroid, elytron, elytrum, Elzevir, em, emaciate, emaciated, emaciation, emacs, emagram

Other definitions for em (2 of 7)

'em

[ uhm ]

/ əm /

pronoun Informal.

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

electromagnetic.

electromotive.

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 em (7 of 7)

E.M.

abbreviation

Earl Marshal.

Engineer of Mines.

How to use em in a sentence

He could, as a fallback, partner well with Big Squish-Em, Dis-Em Chris.
Why 2016’s Hopefuls Are Hopeless|P. J. O’Rourke|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If only Tupac was alive to see one of our finest actresses shakin’ what her mama gave her to “Hit ‘Em Up.”
Oscar Season Kicks Off in Toronto: Channing Tatum, Kristen Stewart, and More Court Awards Glory|Marlow Stern|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I do feel for ‘em, but you can’t take some down here and there.
The Movie Nudity Maestro: Jim McBride on 15 Years of Mr. Skin and That Scarlett Johansson Scene|Marlow Stern|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You’d get in a fight with somebody at a bar and it was totally cool to walk out and shoot ‘em.
Michael C. Hall on Where ‘Dexter’ Went Wrong and His New Killer Role in ‘Cold in July’|Melissa Leon|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

You tell ‘em this in New York: Not never no cover at Benny’s!
The Cradle of Jazz, Blues and Gospel Endlessly Rocking|Jason Berry|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sick allers ez took care on among them, they sed, 's long uz enny on em hez got a thing left.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
There are three there, Bill, with a jolly large blue unicorn and a gold pitchfork on em, which is the old ladys arms.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
Coals!what would he do with coals?Toast his cheese with em, and then come back for more.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
Theres too many of em trying to keep their hands clean, an livin above their means.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
And all the fal-lals and di-does they larn em in high school now doesnt amount to a row of pins in practical life.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison

British Dictionary definitions for em (1 of 3)

/ (ɛm) /

noun printing

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

Word Origin for 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