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¹w

noun, often capitalized often attributive \ˈdə-bəl-(ˌ)yü, ˈdə-bə-; ˈdəb-(ˌ)yü, -yə; ˈdəb-yē\

: the 23rd letter of the English alphabet

plural w's or ws \-(ˌ)yüz, -yəz, -yēz\

Full Definition of W

a : the 23d letter of the English alphabet

b : a graphic representation of this letter

c : a speech counterpart of orthographic w

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter w

: one designated w especially as the 23d in order or class

: something shaped like the letter W

See w defined for English-language learners

See w defined for kids

First Known Use of W

15th century

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

Rhymes with W

aperçu, avenue, babassu, baby blue, ballyhoo, barbecue, billet-doux, bird's-eye view, black-and-blue, buckaroo, bugaboo, callaloo, caribou, catechu, clerihew, cobalt blue, cockapoo, cockatoo, Cotonou, counterview, curlicue, déjà vu, derring-do, detinue, feverfew, follow-through, gardyloo, hitherto, honeydew, ingenue, interview, IOU, Irish stew, jabiru, Jiangsu, kangaroo, Kathmandu, kinkajou, loup-garou, Makalu, manitou, marabou, McAdoo, microbrew, midnight blue, Montague, Montesquieu, Mountain View, ormolu, overdo, overdue, overshoe, overstrew, overview, parvenu, parvenue, pas de deux, passe-partout, pay-per-view, PDQ, peacock blue, peekaboo, peer review, petting zoo, Pompidou, Port Salut, rendezvous, residue, retinue, revenue, Roh Tae Woo, seppuku, Shikoku, sneak preview, succès fou, switcheroo, talking-to, teleview, Telugu, thereunto, thirty-two, thitherto, Timbuktu, tinamou, twenty-two, view halloo, vindaloo, wallaroo, waterloo, well-to-do, what have you, whoop-de-do, witches' brew, Xanadu

²w

abbreviation

Definition of W

water

week

weight

white

wicket

wide; width

wife

with

See w defined for English-language learners

¹W

noun

Definition of W

: w particle

First Known Use of W

1960

²W

abbreviation

Definition of W

watt

³W

symbol

Definition of W

tungsten

Origin of W

German Wolfram

W Defined for Kids

w

noun , often cap \ˈdə-bəl-yü\

plural w's or ws \-yüz\

Definition of W for Kids

: the 23rd letter of the English alphabet

Headscratcher for W

W is the only letter whose name is more than one syllable. In fact, the letter's name when spelled out, double-u, doesn't even contain a W or the sound it makes. So why is the letter double-u called double-u? The name describes the letter's shape when written by hand.