Y, 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.

Definition for y (2 of 10)

y

Symbol, Mathematics.

an unknown quantity.
(in Cartesian coordinates) the y-axis.

Definition for y (3 of 10)

Y

yen1(def 1).

Definition for y (4 of 10)

Y
[ wahy ]
/ waɪ /

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

Definition for y (5 of 10)

Y

Symbol.

the 25th in order or in a series, or, when I is omitted, the 24th.
(sometimes lowercase) the medieval Roman numeral for 150. Compare Roman numerals.
(sometimes lowercase) Electricity. admittance.
Chemistry. yttrium.
Biochemistry. tyrosine.

Definition for y (6 of 10)

y-

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-

Definition for y (7 of 10)

-y 1

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

1
Old English -ig; cognate with German -ig; compare perhaps Latin -icus, Greek -ikos

Definition for y (8 of 10)

-y 2

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 to form from adjectives 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

2
late Middle English (Scots), orig. in names; of uncertain origin; baby and puppy, now felt as having this suffix, may be of different derivation

Definition for y (9 of 10)

-y 3

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

3
representing Latin -ia, -ium; Greek -ia, -eia, -ion; French -ie; German -ie

Definition for y (10 of 10)

y.

yard; yards.
year; years.

Words related to y

intersection, edge, rim, twist, corner, slant, fork, ridge, projection, veer, crook, shift, joint, bend, branch, crossing, junction, cloverleaf, V, point

Example sentences from the Web for y

British Dictionary definitions for y (1 of 8)

y

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
  1. something shaped like a Y
  2. (in combination)a Y-cross

British Dictionary definitions for y (2 of 8)

y
/ 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)

Y

symbol for

any unknown, unspecified, or variable factor, number, person, or thing
chem yttrium
currency
  1. yen
  2. yuan

British Dictionary definitions for y (4 of 8)

y.

abbreviation for

year

British Dictionary definitions for y (5 of 8)

Y.

abbreviation for

YMCA or YWCA

British Dictionary definitions for y (6 of 8)

-y 1

-ey

suffix forming adjectives

(from nouns) characterized by; consisting of; filled with; relating to; resembling sunny; sandy; smoky; classy
(from verbs) tending to; acting or existing as specified leaky; shiny

Word Origin for -y

from Old English -ig, -ǣg

British Dictionary definitions for y (7 of 8)

-y 2

-ie or -ey

suffix informal

denoting smallness and expressing affection and familiarity a doggy; a granny; Jamie
a person or thing concerned with or characterized by being a 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 (8 of 8)

-y 3

suffix forming nouns

(from verbs) indicating the act of doing what is indicated by the verbal element inquiry
(esp with combining forms of Greek, Latin, or French origin) indicating state, condition, or quality geography; jealousy

Word Origin for -y

from Old French -ie, from Latin -ia

Medical definitions for y

Y

The symbol for the elementyttrium

Scientific definitions for y (1 of 2)

Y

The symbol for yttrium.

Scientific definitions for y (2 of 2)

yttrium
[ ĭt′rē-əm ]

Y

A silvery metallic element found in the same ores as elements of the lanthanide series. Yttrium is used to strengthen magnesium and aluminum alloys, to provide the red color in color televisions, and as a component of various optical and electronic devices. Atomic number 39; atomic weight 88.906; melting point 1,522°C; boiling point 3,338°C; specific gravity 4.45 (25°C); valence 3. See Periodic Table.