Ur

[ ur, oor ]

/ ɜr, ʊər /

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noun

an ancient Sumerian city on the Euphrates, in S Iraq: extensive excavations, especially of royal tombs.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Words nearby Ur

upwelling, upwhirl, upwind, up yours, u quark, Ur, uracil, uraemia, uraeus, Ural, Ural-Altaic

Other definitions for Ur (2 of 4)

ur-¹

variant of uro-¹: uranalysis.

Other definitions for Ur (3 of 4)

ur-²

variant of uro-² before a vowel: urite.

Other definitions for Ur (4 of 4)

ur-³

(sometimes initial capital letter)

a combining form meaning “earliest, original,” used in words denoting the primal stage of a historical or cultural entity or phenomenon: ur-civilization; urtext.

Origin of ur-

<German ur-,Middle High German, Old High German; cognate with Old English or-

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

How to use Ur in a sentence

During all of these far-flung administrative changes, the Sumerian capital city of Ur itself became the bastion of culture and learning in southern Mesopotamia.
Who Were The Ancient Sumerians? History of the ‘First’ Mesopotamians|Dattatreya Mandal|September 15, 2022|Realm of History
Using UpToDate as the ur-text, though, gets into a vast expanse of gray zone, with some assertions evidence-based but many not.
How Wikipedia Is Like Your Doctor|Kent Sepkowitz|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Virginia State Delegate Barbara Comstock is the ur-Republican.
Republican Congressional Candidate's Awkward Obama Vote|Ben Jacobs|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
God is said to have summoned Abraham from Ur, now in Southern Iraq.
Saddam’s Jewish Treasures|Josh Robin|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The identity of the Taliban leader reportedly killed in the drone strike—Wali-ur Rehman—is another mixed blessing.
Pakistan’s Drone Dilemma|Jahanzeb Aslam|May 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Earlier in the day he had posted a photo of himself showing off his abs with the note “Ur turn.”
Justin Bieber Freaks Out Over Grammys, Feuds With the Black Keys|Marlow Stern|February 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There was no foam around the Gild-Holm-'Ur; no wave beat against its granite sides.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
At the same moment the wide waters round the Gild-Holm-'Ur and the vast gathering twilight closed upon them.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
Don'o'—the 's suthin' ur other to pay, Ur he wouldn't 'a' stayed tu hum to-day.
The Book of Humorous Verse|Various
There is a legend of Abraham, before he left Ur of the Chaldeans, which exhibits the contempt he had of idols.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant
A vast number of idols were brought from foreign nations, but as they were composed of wood, the god Ur (or fire) consumed them.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant

British Dictionary definitions for Ur (1 of 4)

/ (ɜː) /

noun

an ancient city of Sumer located on a former channel of the Euphrates

British Dictionary definitions for Ur (2 of 4)

/ text messaging /

abbreviation for

you are

your

British Dictionary definitions for Ur (3 of 4)

ur-

combining form

a variant of uro- 1, uro- 2

British Dictionary definitions for Ur (4 of 4)

Ur-

combining form

original, primitiveUrsprache

Word Origin for Ur-

German

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