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.

---

EMU ² American  

1. Also electromagnetic unit.

2. Aerospace. extravehicular mobility unit.

---

EMU ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. European Monetary Union

2. Economic and Monetary Union

3. See e.m.u.

---

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

---

e.m.u. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic unit

---

EMU Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of electromagnetic unit

---

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

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

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

A man had to return early from his first holiday in years when his emu decided it also needed a break - and went off on its own adventure.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2023

I could also name some rarer animals: chinchilla, mink, crocodile, ostrich, emu, beaver, leopard.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman