Q

¹ American  

[kyoo] / kyu /

Or q

noun

plural

Q's, Qs, q's, qs

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

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

3. something having the shape of a Q .

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

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

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Q ² American  

abbreviation

1. quarterly.

2. Chess. queen.

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Q ³ American  

Symbol.

1. the 17th in order or in a series.

2. (sometimes lowercase) the medieval Roman numeral for 500.

3. Biochemistry. glutamine.

4. Physics. heat.

5. Thermodynamics. a unit of heat energy, equal to 10 18 British thermal units (1.055 × 10 21 joules).

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

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

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q. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. farthing.

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q. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. quart; quarts.

2. query.

3. question.

4. quintal.

5. quire.

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Q. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. quarto.

2. Quebec.

3. Queen.

4. question.

5. (in Guatemala) quetzal; quetzals.

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Q ¹ British  

symbol

1. chess queen

2. question

3. physics heat

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abbreviation

1. text messaging queue

Q. ² British  

abbreviation

1. quartermaster

2. Also: q.  quarto

3. Queen

4. question

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q. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. quart

2. quarter

3. quarterly

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q ⁴ British  

/ kjuː /

noun

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

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

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q ⁵ British  

symbol

1. quintal

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q Idioms  

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

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Etymology

Origin of q.

From the Latin word quadrāns

Example Sentences

Q: Do you have hope of seeing her free soon?

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Q: How do you see Brazil's financial market under the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva?

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Q: Did anyone foresee how much index funds would grow?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Q: How can developers improve security in quantum computers?

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Suzie Q lay her head on Sofia chest.

From "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker