U

or u

[ yoo ]

noun,plural U's or Us, u's or us.

the 21st letter of the English alphabet, a vowel.
any spoken sound represented by the letter U or u, as in music, rule, curious, put, or jug.

something having the shape of a U.
a written or printed representation of the letter U or u.
a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter U or u.

Words Nearby U

Other definitions for U (2 of 9)

U²

[ yoo ]

pronounInformal.

you: Shoes Fixed While U Wait.

Origin of U

First recorded in 1840–45

Other definitions for U (3 of 9)

U³

[ yoo ]

adjectiveInformal.

characteristic of or appropriate to the upper class, especially of Great Britain.

Origin of U

First recorded in 1950–55; u(pper class)

Other definitions for U (4 of 9)

U⁴

[ oo ]

noun

a Burmese title of respect applicable to a man: used before the proper name.

Origin of U

⁴

First recorded in 1930–35; from Burmese ʔú, roughly “Mister, Uncle,” used for senior men and monks

Other definitions for U (5 of 9)

U⁵

Symbol.

(on a packaged product) certified as kosher by the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
the 21st in order or in a series.

Chemistry. uranium.
Biochemistry. uracil.
Thermodynamics. internal energy.
British. a designation for motion pictures determined as being acceptable for viewing by all age groups.: Compare A³ (def. 10), AA² (def. 5), X³ (def. 9).

Other definitions for u. (6 of 9)

u.¹

abbreviation

and.

Origin of u.

⁶

From the German word und

Other definitions for u. (7 of 9)

u.²

abbreviation

uniform.
unit.

unsatisfactory.
upper.

Other definitions for U. (8 of 9)

U.¹

abbreviation

and.

Origin of U.

⁸

From the German word und

Other definitions for U. (9 of 9)

U.²

abbreviation

uncle.
uniform.

union.
unit.
united.
university.
unsatisfactory.
upper.

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

How to use U in a sentence

District Trustee Richard Barrera told the U-T that the next phase of reopening will depend on how successfully this first phase goes.
Morning Report: Local Post Office Operations Clam Up | Voice of San Diego | August 28, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
Such a conclusion would only follow if one just focuses on the U-process and completely ignores the R process.
Schrödinger’s Cat When Nobody Is Looking - Issue 89: The Dark Side | Daniel Sudarsky | August 26, 2020 | Nautilus
The Barrios campaign didn’t return requests for comment but his lawyer told the U-T that the press release was a mistake.
Barrios Makes Dubious Claims on Investigations Into His Spending | Jesse Marx | August 25, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
She cites as evidence the FDA’s decision to allow the use of hydroxychloroquine — a disproved drug touted by the president — to treat the virus before it performed a U-turn after several studies showed the medicine did not benefit patients.
Liberal, Educated … and Anti-Vaxxer: Pandemic Births New Vaccine Doubters | Charu Kasturi | August 25, 2020 | Ozy
The U-T reported that some private schools have ambitious plans to test students and teachers.
Morning Report: About Those Private Day Camps … | Voice of San Diego | August 18, 2020 | Voice of San Diego

Director Yoo Dong-hun and screenwriter Lee Jung-U were arrested for firebombing theaters.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea | Rich Goldstein | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Following this supposed U-turn on his political beliefs, Darakhshan went back to Iran in October 2008.
Iran’s Blogfather Walks Free After Six Years in Jail | IranWire | November 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But for adolescent inmates, says U. S. Attorney Preet Bharara, “Rikers Island is broken.”
Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On | Tina Brown | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The video also included a clip of the British prime minister describing the U. S. as allies.
ISIS Murder of British Hostage Likely to Draw UK Deeper Into New War | Nico Hines | September 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She was naked in Money Train and U-Turn, the Oliver Stone movie.
The Movie Nudity Maestro: Jim McBride on 15 Years of Mr. Skin and That Scarlett Johansson Scene | Marlow Stern | August 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
U was an Usurer, a miserable elf; V was a Vintner, who drank all himself.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17) | Various
The channels between t and U, and between v and w, appeared to be clear and deep.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2] | Phillip Parker King
(ii) The provision to the maximum extent possible of non-restricted or "U" programmes for children's sessions.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents | Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
"I didn't suppose there were such bea-U-tiful dresses in the world," sighed Elsie, looking about her.
The Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch | Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter
Whler's and Bauschinger's experiments give values of t, U, and s, for some materials.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for u (1 of 4)

U

/ (juː) /

nounplural u's, U's or Us

the 21st letter and fifth vowel of the modern English alphabet
any of several speech sounds represented by this letter, in English as in mute, cut, hurt, sure, pull, or minus

- something shaped like a U
- (in combination): a U-bolt; a U-turn

British Dictionary definitions for U (2 of 4)

U¹

symbol for

united
unionist

university
(in Britain)
- universal (used to describe a category of film certified as suitable for viewing by anyone)
- (as modifier): a U film
chem uranium
biochem uracil

abbreviation for

text messaging you

adjective

British old-fashioned, informal (esp of language habits) characteristic of or appropriate to the upper class: Compare non-U

British Dictionary definitions for U (3 of 4)

U²

/ (uː) /

noun

a Burmese title of respect for men, equivalent to Mr

British Dictionary definitions for U. (4 of 4)

abbreviation for

maths union
unit

united
university
upper

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

Scientific definitions for U

Abbreviation of uracil

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