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em
[ em ]
/ ɛm /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun, plural ems.
adjective
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of em
First recorded in 1860–65
Words nearby em
Other definitions for em (2 of 7)
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)
Other definitions for em (4 of 7)
EM
abbreviation
Other definitions for em (5 of 7)
Compare im-1.
Other definitions for em (6 of 7)
Other definitions for em (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
British Dictionary definitions for em (1 of 3)
em
/ (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)
British Dictionary definitions for em (3 of 3)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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