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• nu
  nu

  noun

  the 13th letter of the Greek alphabet (Ν, ν).
• Nu
  Nu

  noun

  U Thauin Nu, 1907–1995, Burmese political leader: prime minister 1948–56, 1957–58, 1960–62.
• nu-
  nu-

  prefix

  indicating an updated or modern version of something

nu

¹ American  

[noo, nyoo] / nu, nju /

noun

1. the 13th letter of the Greek alphabet (Ν, ν).

2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.

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nu ² American  

[noo] / nu /

interjection

1. well? so? so what?

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Nu ³ American  

[noo] / nu /

noun

1. U Thauin Nu, 1907–1995, Burmese political leader: prime minister 1948–56, 1957–58, 1960–62.

2. Egyptian Religion Nun.

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Nu ¹ British  

/ njuː /

noun

1. U (uː), original name Thakin Nu. 1907–95, Burmese statesman and writer; prime minister (1948–56, 1957–58, 1960–62). He attempted to establish parliamentary democracy, but was ousted (1962) by Ne Win

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nu ² British  

/ njuː /

noun

1. the 13th letter in the Greek alphabet (Ν, ν), a consonant, transliterated as n

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nu ³ British  

abbreviation

1. Niue

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nu- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. informal indicating an updated or modern version of something

   nu-metal music

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Etymology

Origin of nu¹

1885–90; < Greek nû < Semitic; cf. nun ²

Origin of nu²

1890–95; < Yiddish; cognate with Old High German, Middle High German nū (adv. and conjunction), German nu (dial. and colloquial) well! well now! See now

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nu Nu nu-

At the dawn of the new millennium, music critics prophesied that five young men living in New York City would cast the false gods of nu metal, rap-rock and boy bands out of heavy rotation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

It was this link between one-way genetic flow, patrilocality, and the non-reciprocity of exchange that led me, in Néandertal nu in 2022, to formulate the singular paradox: “Neanderthal, Sapiens: I love you… me neither.”

From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026

Sampa says her upcoming album, which does not yet have a release date, falls into a genre she calls "nu Zamrock".

From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025

That vision got clearer when he first saw singer Moody performing with the nu metal band Motograter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2025

The Igwe came over to shake Papa’s hand during Peace and Love, and he said, “Nno nu, I will stop by later, so we can greet properly.”

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The death prompted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to launch an investigation in June into the maker of Celsius and Alani Nu over energy drinks that he says are marketed to teens and children.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Rosales invited car clubs, including Nu Minis and local Volksstyle CC, to show off their rides, bringing attention to modified vehicles that aren’t lowriders.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

We first meet her in her inner sanctum, her extremely girly bedroom in the depths of her extremely girly sorority, Delta Nu.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

At last week's World Cup warm-up against Peru in Miami, where there is a Little Haiti neighbourhood, South Florida's Haitian diaspora helped sell out the Nu Stadium.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

China stuck the hot curlers into a tin of Nu Nile hair dressing.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

Similar examples could be given of Moslem nu- merological practices.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

They are far too nu-         Merous to mention.

From Tobogganing on Parnassus by Franklin P. (Franklin Pierce) Adams

The city whose lord is distressed,66 26. en-šú la-ba-ši-gur-ru suģ67-ám-bi nu- um- im me 26.

From Sumerian Liturgies and Psalms by Stephen Langdon