Um
Origin 1
From Middle English um, from Old Norse um, umb ("around, about"), from Proto-Germanic *umbi ("around"), from Proto-Indo-European *ambÊ°i- ("by, around"). Cognate with Old English ymbe ("around"). More at umbe.
Origin 2
Alternative forms
Interjection
- (chiefly American) Expression of confusion or space filler in conversation. See uh.Um, I don’t know.Let’s see... um... how about this?
Verb
- (intransitive) To make the um sound to express confusion or hesitancy.
Pronunciation
- Pronounced as micrometer.
Origin 3
A Latin-script rendering of µm.