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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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