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• emu
  emu

  noun

  a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu (Dromaius ) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.
• EMU
  EMU

  Also electromagnetic unit.
• e.m.u.
  e.m.u.

  abbreviation

  electromagnetic unit

emu

¹ American  

[ee-myoo] / ˈi myu /

noun

1. a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu (Dromaius ) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.

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EMU ² American  

1. Also electromagnetic unit.

2. Aerospace. extravehicular mobility unit.

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EMU ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. European Monetary Union

2. Economic and Monetary Union

3. See e.m.u.

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emu ² British  

/ ˈiːmjuː /

noun

1. a large Australian flightless bird, Dromaius novaehollandiae, similar to the ostrich but with three-toed feet and grey or brown plumage: order Casuariiformes See also ratite

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e.m.u. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic unit

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EMU Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of electromagnetic unit

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Etymology

Origin of emu

1605–15; earlier emeu (in earliest E source emia, eme ), ultimately < Portuguese ema, attested in 1541 as a name for the cassowary (further origin obscure); the replacement of -a by -eu, etc., is unexplained

Explanation

An emu is a very large, flightless bird that is only slightly shorter than its close relative, the ostrich. You're likely to see emus if you travel around their native continent of Australia. Emus reign as the biggest bird in Australia, growing to a height of six feet or more as adults. These long-legged birds have soft brown feathers and relatively small wings that they flap as they run (sometimes sprinting at 30 miles per hour), though sadly, they're unable to take flight. Etymologists guess that emu comes from the Portuguese word for "ostrich," ema.

Example Sentences

Colossal Biosciences would again edit the genes of a close living relative, such as the emu or tinamou, and call it a moa.

From Slate • Aug. 8, 2025

And in “Edward the Emu,” by Sheena Knowles, an emu who has tired of the zoo tries on life as a seal, a lion and a snake.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2024

Officers from Kent Police were alerted and joined in the capture of the emu which a spokesman said had escaped from a residential property.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2023

Besides the 10 remaining bison, the park is home to a horse, two donkeys, two mule deer, tortoises, alpacas, a llama, pigs, rabbits, chickens, geese, ducks, swans, an emu and a cockatoo.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2023

He wondered if he would have better luck sleeping in the emu pen.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli