y

noun, often capitalized, often attributive \ ˈwī \

Updated on: 13 Oct 2017

Definition of y

plural y's or ys play \ˈwīz\

1 a :the 25th letter of the English alphabet

b :a graphic representation of this letter

c :a speech counterpart of orthographic y

2 :a graphic device for reproducing the letter y

3 :one designated y especially as the 25th in order or class or the second in order or class when x is made the first

4 :something shaped like the letter Y

See y defined for English-language learners

See y defined for kids

Examples of y in a Sentence

a word that starts with a y
a word that starts with y

First Known Use of y

before 12th century

Other Alphabet Terms

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

y

abbreviation

Definition of y

1 yard

2 year

Y

noun \ ˈwī \

Definition of Y

1 :ymca

2 :ywca

See Y defined for kids

First Known Use of y

circa 1915

Y

symbol

Definition of Y

yttrium

-y

adjective suffix

variants: or less commonly -ey \ē; in some dialects, especially British, Southern US, and New England, often ibut not shown at individual entries\

Definition of -y

1 a :characterized by :full of

blossomy

dirty

muddy

clayey

b :having the character of :composed of

waxy

c :like :like that of

homey

wintry

—often with a disparaging connotation

stagy

2 a :tending or inclined to

sleepy

chatty

b :giving occasion for (specified) action

teary

c :performing (specified) action

curly

Origin and Etymology of -y

Middle English, from Old English -ig; akin to Old High German -īg -y, Latin -icus, Greek -ikos, Sanskrit -ika

-y

noun suffix \ same \

Definition of -y

plural -ies

1 :state :condition :quality

beggary

2 :activity, place of business, or goods dealt with

chandlery

laundry

3 :whole body or group

soldiery

Origin and Etymology of -y

Middle English -ie, from Anglo-French, from Latin -ia, from Greek -ia, -eia

-y

noun suffix

Definition of -y

plural -ies

:instance of a (specified) action

entreaty

inquiry

Origin and Etymology of -y

Middle English -ie, from Anglo-French, from Latin -ium

-y

Definition of -y

— see -ie

Financial Definition of Y

symbol

What It Is

Y is a ticker-symbol extension that signifies that a stock is an American Depository Receipt.

How It Works

Issued by U.S. banks, American Depository Receipts (ADRs) are certificates that represent shares of a foreign stock owned by the issuing bank. The foreign shares are usually held in custody overseas, but the certificates trade in the U.S. Through this system, a large number of foreign-based companies are actively traded on one of the three major U.S. equity markets (the NYSE, AMEX, or Nasdaq).

On the Nasdaq market, for example, the letter Y after the ticker (if its ticker were XYZC, an XYZ Company ADR would look like this: XYZC-Y) to denote that the security is an ADR.

Why It Matters

ADRs give U.S. investors the ability to easily purchase shares in foreign firms, and they are typically much more convenient and cost effective for domestic investors (versus purchasing stocks in overseas markets). And because many foreign firms are involved in industries and geographical markets where U.S. multinationals don't have a presence, investors often use ADRs to help diversify their portfolio on a much more global scale.

Accordingly, it is very important to understand what ticker extensions mean.

Source: Investing Answers

Y Defined for English Language Learners

y

noun

Definition of y for English Language Learners

: the 25th letter of the English alphabet
mathematics —used to represent especially a second unknown quantity
—used in the phrase x, y, and z to refer to the second thing in a group of three unnamed things

-y

adjective suffix

Definition of -y for English Language Learners

: full or having a lot of something
: having the qualities of something : made of or seeming to be made of something
: resembling something

Y Defined for Kids

y

noun, often capitalized \ ˈwī \

Definition of y for Students

plural y's or ys \ˈwīz\

:the 25th letter of the English alphabet

-y

adjective suffix

variants: also -ey \ē\

Definition of -y for Students

-ier; -iest

1 :showing, full of, or made of

dirty

muddy

2 :like

wintry

3 :devoted to :enthusiastic about

4 :tending to

sleepy

5 :somewhat :rather

chilly

-y

noun suffix \ ē \

Definition of -y for Students

plural -ies

1 :state :condition :quality

jealousy

2 :activity, place of business, or goods dealt with

laundry

3 :whole body or group

-y

noun suffix

Definition of -y for Students

plural -ies

:occasion or example of a specified action

entreaty

inquiry

-y

Definition of -y for Students

see -ie

Medical Dictionary

Y

symbol

medical Definition of Y

yttrium

Learn More about y

Spanish Central: Translation of y Nglish: Translation of y for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up y? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

y

Definition of y

People Are Reading

Examples of y in a Sentence

First Known Use of y

Other Alphabet Terms

y

Definition of y

Y

Definition of Y

First Known Use of y

Y

Definition of Y

-y

Definition of -y

Origin and Etymology of -y

-y

Definition of -y

Origin and Etymology of -y

-y

Definition of -y

Origin and Etymology of -y

-y

Definition of -y

Financial Definition of Y

What It Is

How It Works

Why It Matters

Phrases Related to Y

Related Phrases

Y Defined for English Language Learners

y

Definition of y for English Language Learners

-y

Definition of -y for English Language Learners

Y Defined for Kids

y

Definition of y for Students

-y

Definition of -y for Students

-y

Definition of -y for Students

-y

Definition of -y for Students

-y

Definition of -y for Students

Medical Dictionary

Y

medical Definition of Y

Learn More about y

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Spox' May Go On The Record

Trending: New Joe Ide Novel Causes 'Righteous' Spike

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Forms of Government Quiz

Words of the Year: 1066