w

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈdə-bəl-(ˌ)yü  ˈdə-bə- 

ˈdəb-(ˌ)yü,

-yə;

ˈdəb-yē

plural w's or ws ˈdə-bəl-(ˌ)yüz 

ˈdə-bə-;

ˈdəb-(ˌ)yüz,

-yəz;

ˈdəb-yēz

often capitalized, often attributive

1

a

: the 23rd letter of the English alphabet

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

c

: a speech counterpart of orthographic w

2

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter w

3

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

4

: something shaped like the letter W

w

2 of 5

abbreviation (1)

1

water

2

week

3

weight

4

west; western

5

white

6

wicket

7

wide; width

8

wife

9

with

W

3 of 5

noun (2)

ˈdə-bəl-(ˌ)yü  ˈdə-bə- 

ˈdəb-(ˌ)yü,

-yə;

ˈdəb-yē

: w particle

W

4 of 5

abbreviation (2)

watt

W

5 of 5

symbol

tungsten

Examples of w in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a word that starts with a w

a word that starts with w

Abbreviation (1)

The area of a rectangle is L x W.

Word History

Etymology

Symbol

German Wolfram

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1960, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing w

• b and w

Kids Definition

w

noun

ˈdəb-əl-(ˌ)yü,

-yə,

ˈdəb(-ə)-yə

often capitalized

: the 23rd letter of the English alphabet

Medical Definition

W

symbol

tungsten

Etymology

Symbol

German wolfram