Q

or q

[ kyoo ]

/ kyu /

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noun, plural Q's or Qs, q's or qs.

the 17th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant.

any spoken sound represented by the letter Q or q, as in quick, acquit, or Iraq.

something having the shape of a Q.

a written or printed representation of the letter Q or q.

a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter Q or q.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby Q

pyxie, pyxis, Pyxis Nautica, PYY3-36, pzazz, Q, QA, qabalah, Qabis, Qaboos bin Said, Qadarite

Other definitions for Q (2 of 6)

Q²

abbreviation

quarterly.

Chess. queen (def. 6).

Other definitions for Q (3 of 6)

Q³

Symbol.

the 17th in order or in a series.

(sometimes lowercase) the medieval Roman numeral for 500.Compare Roman numerals.

Biochemistry. glutamine.

Physics. heat (def. 7).

Thermodynamics. a unit of heat energy, equal to 1018 British thermal units (1.055 × 1021 joules).

Also called Q-factor .Electronics. the ratio of the reactance to the resistance of an electric circuit or component.

Biblical Criticism. the symbol for material common to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke that was not derived from the Gospel of Mark.

Other definitions for Q (4 of 6)

q.¹

abbreviation

farthing.

Origin of q.

From the Latin word quadrāns

Other definitions for Q (5 of 6)

q.²

abbreviation

quart; quarts.

query.

question.

quintal.

quire.

Other definitions for Q (6 of 6)

abbreviation

quarto.

Quebec.

Queen.

question.

(in Guatemala) quetzal; quetzals.

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

How to use Q in a sentence

Q: What was your sensation when they were pouring water... what did you physically feel?
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chat live with Drew and Jonathan Scott right here on The Daily Beast during a Live Q&A on Tuesday, December 16 from 2pm-3pm.
How the Property Brothers Became Your Mom’s Favorite TV Stars|Kevin Fallon|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Camille Hammond, CEO of Tinina Q Cade Foundation, said simply that the pathways to parenthood are different.
Want Blue Eyes With That Baby?: The Strange New World of Human Reproduction|Eleanor Clift|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
During a Q&A with PrideSource magazine a couple of weeks ago, she was asked if she thought Beyoncé was a feminist.
Annie Lennox Doesn’t Give a Damn What You Think|Itay Hod|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Ice Cube and Schoolboy Q.” Osorio seems dumfounded by the decision.
It Was All a Dream: Drama, Bullshit, and the Rebirth of The Source Magazine|Alex Suskind|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Q was a Queen, who wore a silk slip; R was a Robber, and wanted a whip.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
The reading of the Q., however, is quite intelligible,taking overthrown in the sense of thrown too strongly.
The Fatal Dowry|Philip Massinger
The block is then fastened to the base under and parallel with the shaft carrying the disk Q, as shown.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
The conduct of the war was now delegated to Q. Ccilius Metellus, by whom it was soon after brought to a successful termination.
The Two Great Republics: Rome and the United States|James Hamilton Lewis
Q were groaning on the ground, and the Captain was detailing men to carry them back to where the Surgeon had established himself.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy

British Dictionary definitions for Q (1 of 5)

symbol for

quintal

British Dictionary definitions for Q (2 of 5)

Q

/ (kjuː) /

noun plural q's, Q's or Qs

the 17th letter and 13th consonant of the modern English alphabet

a speech sound represented by this letter, in English usually a voiceless velar stop, as in unique and quick

British Dictionary definitions for Q (3 of 5)

symbol for

chess queen

question

physics heat

abbreviation for

text messaging queue

British Dictionary definitions for Q (4 of 5)

abbreviation for

quart

quarter

quarterly

British Dictionary definitions for Q (5 of 5)

abbreviation for

quartermaster

Also: q plural Qq or qq quarto

Queen

question

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with Q

see mind one's p's and q's.