Y

Multiple Entries:
  Y    y    -y    yttrium  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
Y1 (also y)

▶noun (pl. Ys or Y's)

• 1 the twenty-fifth letter of the alphabet.

• 2 denoting the next after X in a set of items, categories, etc.

• 3 denoting an unknown or unspecified person or thing (coming second after ‘x’).

• 4 (usu. y) the second unknown quantity in an algebraic expression, usually the dependent variable.

  ■ denoting the secondary or vertical axis in a system of coordinates.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
Y2

▶abbreviation

• 1 yen.

• 2 N. Amer. informal a YMCA or YWCA hostel.

▶symbol the chemical element yttrium.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
y/jes/

▶abbreviation year(s).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-y1

▶suffix forming adjectives.

• 1 (from nouns and adjectives) full of; having the quality of: messy.

  ■ with derogatory reference: boozy.

• 2 (from verbs) apt to: sticky.

– origin OE -ig, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-y2 (also -ey or -ie)

▶suffix forming diminutive nouns, pet names, etc.: aunty.

■ forming verbs: shinny.

– origin ME: orig. Scots.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-y3

▶suffix forming nouns.

• 1 denoting a state or quality: jealousy.

• 2 denoting an action or its result: victory.

– origin from Fr. -ie, from L. -ia, -ium, or Gk -eia, -ia.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
yttrium /ˈɪtrɪəm/

▶noun the chemical element of atomic number 39, a greyish-white metal resembling the rare-earth elements. (Symbol: Y)

– origin C19: mod. L., from Ytterby (see ytterbium).