noun
Uncommon
mu
myoo
Mu (noun) means the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet (Μ, μ). Example: “In physics, mu often stands for the coefficient of friction.”
noun
1
The twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet (Μ, μ).
"In physics, mu often stands for the coefficient of friction."
"Mu is used in statistics to represent the mean of a population."
"The Greek letter mu looks a bit like a lowercase u with a long tail."
How to use mu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Greek letter, commonly used as a symbol in math and science.
Common pairings
the letter mu
mu particle
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Word forms
- Plural
- mus
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In physics, _____ often stands for the coefficient of friction.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek mu, itself from a Phoenician letter meaning "water."
Frequently asked questions
What does “mu” mean?
The word “mu” means the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet (Μ, μ). In plain terms, a Greek letter, commonly used as a symbol in math and science.
How do you pronounce “mu”?
“Mu” is pronounced myoo (/mjuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “mu” in a sentence?
Here is “mu” used in a sentence: “In physics, mu often stands for the coefficient of friction.”
What part of speech is “mu”?
“Mu” is a noun.
Where does the word “mu” come from?
The word “mu” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek mu, itself from a Phoenician letter meaning "water.".
Is “mu” a common word?
“Mu” is an uncommon word in modern English.
Where is the letter mu used outside the Greek alphabet?
The lowercase form of mu (μ) is widely borrowed into science and mathematics, most notably as the symbol for the prefix "micro-" (as in micrometre, µm) and as a common symbol for the mean in statistics. This use draws directly on mu's status as a letter of the Greek alphabet.
What is the position of mu in the Greek alphabet?
Mu is the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet, falling between lambda and nu. It has both uppercase (Μ) and lowercase (μ) forms.
Is mu related to the Latin letter M?
Yes, mu is the historical ancestor of the Latin letter M, as the Greek alphabet's letter forms were adapted into the Latin alphabet used in English.
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