y

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Symbol, Mathematics.

an unknown quantity.

(in Cartesian coordinates) the y-axis.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby y

xystum, xystus, Xystus I, XYY syndrome, XYZ, y, Y2K, ya, yaaas, yaar, yaba

Other definitions for y (2 of 10)

Y¹

or y

[ wahy ]

/ waɪ /

noun, plural Y's or Ys, y's or ys.

the 25th letter of the English alphabet, a semivowel.

any spoken sound represented by the letter Y or y, as in yet, city, or rhythm.

something having the shape of a Y.

a written or printed representation of the letter Y or y.

a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter Y or y.

Other definitions for y (3 of 10)

Y²

[ wahy ]

/ waɪ /

abbreviation

the Y, Informal. the YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, or YWHA.

Other definitions for y (4 of 10)

Y³

abbreviation

yen¹ (def. 1).

Other definitions for y (5 of 10)

Y⁴

Symbol.

the 25th in order or in a series.

(sometimes lowercase) the medieval Roman numeral for 150.Compare Roman numerals.

Electricity. admittance (def. 4). Sometimes y

Chemistry. yttrium.

Biochemistry. tyrosine.

Other definitions for y (6 of 10)

a prefix occurring in certain obsolete words (ywis) and especially in archaic past participles: yclad.

Also i- .

Origin of y-

Middle English y-, i- (reduced variant a-), Old English ge-, prefix with perfective, intensifying, or collective force; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon ge-, gi-,Gothic ga-,German ge-; compare perhaps Latin com-com-

Other definitions for y (7 of 10)

-y¹

a native English suffix of adjectives meaning “characterized by or inclined to” the substance or action of the word or stem to which the suffix is attached: juicy; grouchy; rumbly; dreamy. Sometimes used to mean “allowing, fostering, or bringing about” the specified action: sippy.

Also -ey¹.

Origin of -y

Old English -ig; cognate with German -ig; compare perhaps Latin -icus, Greek -ikos

Other definitions for y (8 of 10)

-y²

a noun-forming suffix with a variety of functions in contemporary English, added to monosyllabic bases to create words that are almost always informal. Its earliest use, probably still productive, was to form endearing or familiar names or common nouns from personal names, other nouns, and adjectives (Billy; Susie; birdie; doggie; granny; sweetie; tummy). The hypocoristic feature is absent in recent coinages, however, which are simply informal and sometimes pejorative (boonies; cabby; groupie; hippy; looie; Okie; preemie; preppy; rookie). Another function of -y2 (-ie ) is the formation from adjectives of nouns that denote exemplary or extreme instances of the quality named by the adjective (baddie; biggie; cheapie; toughie), sometimes focusing on a restricted, usually unfavorable sense of the adjective (sharpie; sickie; whitey). A few words in which the informal character of -y2 (-ie ) has been lost are now standard in formal written English (goalie; movie).

Also -ie .

Compare -o, -sy.

Origin of -y

From late Middle English (Scots), originally in names; of uncertain origin; baby and puppy, now felt as having this suffix, may be of different derivation

Other definitions for y (9 of 10)

-y³

a suffix of various origins used in the formation of action nouns from verbs (inquiry), also found in other abstract nouns: carpentry; infamy.

Origin of -y

Representing Latin -ia, -ium;Greek -ia, -eia, -ion;French -ie;German -ie

Other definitions for y (10 of 10)

abbreviation

yard; yards.

year; years.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use y in a sentence

Its vehicles—the Models S, 3, X, Y lineup—are selling well despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Tesla’s bumpy road to today’s stratospheric stock price|Michael J. Coren|September 25, 2020|Quartz
Later Neanderthals, however, have Y chromosomes that look more like those of us humans.
Not-so-hostile takeover: Human Y chromosome displaced the Neanderthals’ version|Kiona N. Smith|September 24, 2020|Ars Technica
If you see a negative impact on your current X stock, you don’t sell, but invest in a different Y stock that will reduce your risk of loss.
How to (re)build an SEO agency today – Part 3: Changing business models|Sponsored Content: SEOmonitor|September 22, 2020|Search Engine Land
Reporting in PLOS ONE, the researchers found that 62 percent of participants who chanted together chose Y compared with just 21 percent who chanted in sequence.
Why do we miss the rituals put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic?|Sujata Gupta|August 14, 2020|Science News

Thus, a small number of genes on the Y chromosome can create maleness, which is a rather large phenotypic change, even though the father’s contribution to the male genotype is less than the mother’s, as we saw above.
How to Design (or at Least Model) Mixed Dog Breeds|Pradeep Mutalik|July 31, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Why do you think you were “an asperg-y movie fan…a jabbering repellent acolyte?”
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire|William O’Connor|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Lyricist E. Y. “Yip” Harburg was as provocative as Hammerstein, though with a much less earnest, more whimsical sensibility.
When Broadway Musicals Were Dark And Subversive|Laurence Maslon|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Very bass-y house, if I was in my element and playing what I like to play.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the freedom of doing that, we were able to do a non-human, flip-y thing.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth|Alex Suskind|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was like, “In what world do I look like I would play the WASP-y wife?”
Eliza Coupe Finds Her ‘Happy Ending’ With ‘Benched’|Kevin Fallon|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If the "Y" Beach lot press their advantage they may cut off the enemy troops on the toe of the Peninsula.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Y was a Youth, that did not love school; Z was a Zany, a poor harmless fool.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
D'o l'on peut aussy veoir, quelle esperance il y a de planter une belle chrestient par tels evangelistes.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ajoutez cecy, s'il vous plaist, la grande difficult qu'il y a de tirer d'eux les mots mesmes qu'ils ont.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Il n'y eut celuy de nous qui ne jugeast tel metheore prodigieux.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for y (1 of 8)

Y

/ (waɪ) /

noun plural y's, Y's or Ys

the 25th letter of the modern English alphabet

a speech sound represented by this letter, in English usually a semivowel, as in yawn, or a vowel, as in symbol or shy

something shaped like a Y
(in combination)a Y-cross

British Dictionary definitions for y (2 of 8)

/ maths /

symbol for

the y- axis or a coordinate measured along the y- axis in a Cartesian coordinate system

an algebraic variable

British Dictionary definitions for y (3 of 8)

symbol for

any unknown, unspecified, or variable factor, number, person, or thing

chem yttrium

currency

yen
yuan

British Dictionary definitions for y (4 of 8)

-y¹

-ey

suffix forming adjectives

(from nouns) characterized by; consisting of; filled with; relating to; resemblingsunny; sandy; smoky; classy

(from verbs) tending to; acting or existing as specifiedleaky; shiny

Word Origin for -y

from Old English -ig, -ǣg

British Dictionary definitions for y (5 of 8)

-y²

-ie or -ey

suffix informal

denoting smallness and expressing affection and familiaritya doggy; a granny; Jamie

a person or thing concerned with or characterized by beinga groupie; a fatty

Word Origin for -y

C14: from Scottish -ie, -y, familiar suffix occurring originally in names, as in Jamie (James)

British Dictionary definitions for y (6 of 8)

-y³

suffix forming nouns

(from verbs) indicating the act of doing what is indicated by the verbal elementinquiry

(esp with combining forms of Greek, Latin, or French origin) indicating state, condition, or qualitygeography; jealousy

Word Origin for -y

from Old French -ie, from Latin -ia

British Dictionary definitions for y (7 of 8)

abbreviation for

year

British Dictionary definitions for y (8 of 8)

abbreviation for

YMCA or YWCA

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

Medical definitions for y

The symbol for the elementyttrium

Scientific definitions for y

The symbol for yttrium.

y

Words nearby y

Other definitions for y (2 of 10)

or y

Other definitions for y (3 of 10)

Other definitions for y (4 of 10)

Other definitions for y (5 of 10)

Other definitions for y (6 of 10)

Origin of y-

Other definitions for y (7 of 10)

Origin of -y

Other definitions for y (8 of 10)

Origin of -y

Other definitions for y (9 of 10)

Origin of -y

Other definitions for y (10 of 10)

Words related to y

How to use y in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for y (1 of 8)

Y

British Dictionary definitions for y (2 of 8)

British Dictionary definitions for y (3 of 8)

British Dictionary definitions for y (4 of 8)

-ey

Word Origin for -y

British Dictionary definitions for y (5 of 8)

-ie or -ey

Word Origin for -y

British Dictionary definitions for y (6 of 8)

Word Origin for -y

British Dictionary definitions for y (7 of 8)

British Dictionary definitions for y (8 of 8)

Medical definitions for y

Scientific definitions for y