Y /(wī)/

Y
  1. Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix (see Y-), is usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and usually in the middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a vowel. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 145, 178-9, 272.

Y

n.

pl. Y's, Ys ((wīz))

  1. Something shaped like the letter Y; a forked piece resembling in form the letter Y. (Railroads)

Phrases & Compounds
Y level
an instrument for measuring differences of level by means of a telescope resting in Y's.
Y moth
a handsome European noctuid moth Plusia gamma) which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the letter Y, on each of the fore wings. Its larva, which is green with five dorsal white species, feeds on the cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also gamma moth, and silver Y.

Y

pron.
  1. I. [Obs.]

Yᵉ

n.
  1. an old method of printing the article the (AS. þe), the “y” being used in place of the Anglo-Saxon thorn (þ). It is sometimes incorrectly pronounced yē. See The, and Thorn, n., 4.

Yë

n.

pl. Yën ((ē"en))

  1. An eye. [Obs.]
    From his yën ran the water down.

Yᵗ
  1. An old method of printing that (AS. þæt, ðæt) the “y” taking the place of the old letter “thorn” (þ). Cf. Ye, the.