eta

[ ey-tuh, ee-tuh ]

/ ˈeɪ tə, ˈi tə /

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noun

the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet (H, η).

the vowel sound represented by this letter.

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Origin of eta

<Greek êta; compare Hebrew ḥethheth

Words nearby eta

Estuary English, esu, esurient, E. Sussex, et, eta, Eta Carinae, eta-c meson, eta-c particle, etaerio, étagère

Other definitions for eta (2 of 2)

E.T.A.

or ETA

abbreviation

estimated time of arrival.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use eta in a sentence

Aznar jumped to conclusions, quickly blaming Basque separatist organization ETA for the al Qaeda attack.
French Police Mount a Massive Manhunt for Killer of 3 Children, Teacher|Tracy McNicoll|March 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Hell, they could have been the Basque ETA or the ultra right wing U.S. militia.
They're Winning|Steve Emerson|December 1, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Alpha and Eta are both of them large letters: the first is assigned to signify size, the last to signify length.
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume III (of 4)|George Grote
Another variable star showing some unique features is Eta Aquil.
The Popular Science Monthly, October, 1900|Various

Eta barkhadietcatgutçu gure çorrac gucere gure coidunei barkhatcendiotçaguten becala.
Dissertation on the English Language|Noah Webster, Jr.
If there had been astronomers in the southern hemisphere Eta Hydri would certainly have been their pole-star.
Myths and Marvels of Astronomy|Richard A. Proctor
The reader should note that the point overhead in this map is not far from the star Eta (η) in Hercules.
Astronomy with an Opera-glass|Garrett Putman Serviss

British Dictionary definitions for eta (1 of 4)

eta¹

/ (ˈiːtə) /

noun

the seventh letter in the Greek alphabet (Η, η), a long vowel sound, transliterated as e or ē

Word Origin for eta

Greek, of Phoenician origin; compare Hebrew heth

British Dictionary definitions for eta (2 of 4)

eta²

/ (ˈeɪtə) /

noun plural eta or etas

(in Japan, formerly) a member of a class of outcasts who did menial and dirty tasks

Word Origin for eta

C19: Japanese

British Dictionary definitions for eta (3 of 4)

ETA¹

abbreviation for

estimated time of arrival

British Dictionary definitions for eta (4 of 4)

ETA²

/ (ˈɛtə) /

n acronym for

Euzkadi ta Askatsuna: an organization of militant Basque nationalists attempting to gain independence for the Basques, esp those ruled by Spain, until a ceasefire in 1998, by means of guerrilla warfare

Word Origin for ETA

Basque, literally: Basque Nation and Liberty

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