Y, y

(waɪ)

n., pl. Ys Y's, ys y's.

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

2. any spoken sound represented by this letter.

3. something shaped like a Y.

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

Y

(waɪ)

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

Y

yen ¹.

Y

Symbol.

1. the 25th in order or in a series.

2. (sometimes l.c.) Elect. admittance.

3. Chem. yttrium.

4. Biochem. tyrosine.

y

Math. Symbol.

an unknown quantity or a variable.

y-

or i-

a prefix occurring in certain obsolete words (iwis) and esp. in archaic past participles (yclad; yclept).

[Middle English y-, i- (reduced variant a-), Old English ge-, prefix with perfective, intensifying, or collective force; c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon ge-, gi-, Old High German ga-, gi, Gothic ga-]

-y¹

or -ey

an adjective-forming suffix meaning “characterized by or inclined to” the substance or action of the word or stem to which the suffix is attached: bloody; cloudy; sexy; squeaky.

[Old English -ig; c. German -ig]

-y²

or -ie

a noun-forming suffix, added to monosyllabic bases, occurring in endearing or familiar names or common nouns formed from personal names, other nouns, and adjectives (Billy; Susie; birdie; granny; sweetie; tummy) and in various other usu. informal coinages, sometimes pejorative (boonies; goalie; groupie; Okie; rookie). This suffix also forms from adjectives nouns that denote exemplary or extreme instances of the quality specified (baddie; biggie), sometimes focusing on a restricted, usu. unfavorable sense of the adjective (sharpie; sickie; whitey). Compare -o, -sy.

[late Middle English (Scots)]

-y³

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

[representing Latin -ia -ia, -ium -ium¹; Greek -ia, -eia, -ion; French -ie; German -ie]

y.

1. yard.

2. year.

y-

Y, y

Y

Y

Y

y

y-

or i-

-y1

or -ey

-y2

or -ie

-y3

y.

-y¹

-y²

-y³