os
1[ os ]
/ ɒs /
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noun, plural os·sa [os-uh]. /ˈɒs ə/.
Anatomy, Zoology. a bone.
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…
Origin of os
1First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin os (inflectional stem oss- ) “bone”
Other definitions for os (2 of 9)
os2
[ os ]
/ ɒs /
noun, plural o·ra [awr-uh, ohr-uh]. /ˈɔr ə, ˈoʊr ə/.
Anatomy, Zoology. a mouth or orifice of the body.
Origin of os
2First recorded in 1730–40; from Latin ōs (inflectional stem ōr- ) “mouth”
Other definitions for os (3 of 9)
os3
[ ohs ]
/ oʊs /
noun, plural o·sar [oh-sahr]. /ˈoʊ sɑr/.
Geology. an esker, especially when of great length.
Origin of os
3First recorded in 1840–50 as osar (plural); from Swedish ås (plural åsar ) “ridge (of a hill),” from Old Norse áss “thick pole or main beam; rocky ridge”
Other definitions for os (4 of 9)
Os
Symbol, Chemistry. osmium.
Other definitions for os (5 of 9)
Other definitions for os (6 of 9)
o/s
(of the calendar) Old Style.
out of stock.
(in banking) outstanding.
Other definitions for os (7 of 9)
O/S
(of the calendar) Old Style.
Other definitions for os (8 of 9)
O.S.1
or o.s.
abbreviation
(in prescriptions) the left eye.
Origin of O.S.
1From Latin oculus sinister
Other definitions for os (9 of 9)
O.S.2
abbreviation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use os in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for os (1 of 6)
Word Origin for os
C16: from Latin: bone; compare Greek osteon
British Dictionary definitions for os (2 of 6)
os2
/ (ɒs) /
noun plural ora (ˈɔːrə)
anatomy zoology a mouth or mouthlike part or opening
Word Origin for os
C18: from Latin
British Dictionary definitions for os (3 of 6)
Word Origin for os
C19 osar (pl), from Swedish ås (sing) ridge
British Dictionary definitions for os (4 of 6)
Os
the chemical symbol for
osmium
British Dictionary definitions for os (5 of 6)
OS
abbreviation for
Old School
Old Style (method of reckoning dates)
Ordinary Seaman
(in Britain) Ordnance Survey
outsize
Old Saxon (language)
British Dictionary definitions for os (6 of 6)
o.s.
OS or O/S
abbreviation for
out of stock
banking outstanding
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for os
Os
The symbol for osmium.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.