• 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.

    Alternative forms

    Full definition of um

    Preposition

    1. Alternative form of umbe

    Pronunciation

    • Rhymes: -ÊŒm (when stressed, or as a verb)
    Used in rhotic dialects. Compare erm.

    Origin 2

    Alternative forms

    Interjection

    1. (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

    1. (intransitive) To make the um sound to express confusion or hesitancy.

    Pronunciation

    Origin 3

    A Latin-script rendering of µm.

    Noun

    um

    (plural um)
    1. Alternative spelling of µm

    Anagrams

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