em

[ em ]

/ ɛm /

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.

Words nearby em

elytra, elytroid, elytron, elytrum, elzevir, em, em dash, em pica, em quad, em-, emaciate

Origin of em

First recorded in 1860–65

Definition for em (2 of 7)

Symbol, Physical Chemistry.

emanation(def 3).

Definition for em (3 of 7)

electromagnetic.

electromotive.

electronic mail.

electron microscope; electron microscopy.

end matched.

Engineer of Mines.

enlisted man; enlisted men.

Definition for em (4 of 7)

'em

[ uh m ]

/ əm /

pronoun Informal.

them: Put 'em down there.

Origin of 'em

1350–1400; Middle English hem, Old English heom, dative and accusative plural of he¹

Definition for em (5 of 7)

em-¹

variant of en-¹ before b, p, and sometimes m: embalm.

Compare im-¹.

Definition for em (6 of 7)

em-²

variant of en-² before b, m, p, ph: embolism, emphasis.

Definition for em (7 of 7)

E.M.

Earl Marshal.

Engineer of Mines.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for em

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

See, once she had it done to her,” the old woman said, “he didn’t like ‘em but that one time.
How ‘True Detective’ Will End|Andrew Romano|March 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Tha mun tak 'em all thisen, an' then tha'll feel th' benefit on em," sed Jim.
Yorksher Puddin'|John Hartley
They was a little stream run through it and the Rebels pizened it and killed a lot of em.
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume II, Arkansas Narratives, Part 2|Work Projects Administration
If they dont behave themselves Mr. Addison will arrest every one of em.
The Curlytops at Silver Lake|Howard Roger Garis
At noon they'd stop and eat a big meal that the women folks had fixed up for em.
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States|Work Projects Administration
When they first come out they used to charge sixpence a dozen for em, but now theyve got em to twopence hapenny.
Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions.|Frank Cowan

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-

prefix

before b, m, and p, a variant of en- 1, en- 2

British Dictionary definitions for em (3 of 3)

'em

/ (əm) /

pronoun

an informal variant of them

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

Medicine definitions for em (1 of 2)

abbr.

electron microscope

Medicine definitions for em (2 of 2)

em-

pref.

Variant ofen-