What does "au" mean?
Abbreviation of atomic unit.
Au
adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·1 syllable ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Abbreviation of atomic unit.
- Grammar: au is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: astronomical unit, at the, atomic number 79, au symbol.
- Useful contrasts: from the.
- Usage evidence: Of the sweets that I tasted in France, the ones that I'd like to eat most are the brioche, the baba au rhum and the marrons glacés.
How to use "au"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "au" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "au" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "au" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "au" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "au" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "astronomical unit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "au", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Abbreviation of atomic unit. abbreviation, alt-of
- 2 A vowel found in Indic abugidas.
- 3 Initialism of alopecia universalis. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 4 a unit of length used for distances within the solar system; equal to the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun (approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers) wordnet
- 5 Abbreviation of arbitrary unit. abbreviation, alt-of
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 Initialism of astronomical unit. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
"Tuntau is an enormous, low-density terrestrial planet, with a thick atmosphere of methane and helium. Despite being nearly 20 AU from Phoenix, the star's great heat and the insulating thickness of the atmosphere make the surface surprisingly temperate."
- 7 a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia wordnet
- 8 Abbreviation of astronomical unit. abbreviation, alt-of
- 9 Initialism of angstrom unit. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 10 Abbreviation of Absorbance Units. abbreviation, alt-of
- 11 Initialism of alternate universe /alternative universe. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, slang, uncountable
- 12 Initialism of arbitrary unit. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 13 Initialism of animal unit. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
Adjective
- 1 Initialism of almost uncirculated. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of African Union. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 A language spoken in Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.
- 3 A surname.
- 4 Initialism of Age of Ultron. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Synonyms
All synonyms astronomical unitat theatomic number 79au symbolauric symboldistance unit
Antonyms
from the
Example
"Of the sweets that I tasted in France, the ones that I'd like to eat most are the brioche, the baba au rhum and the marrons glacés."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "au"?
Common synonyms include: astronomical unit, at the, atomic number 79, au symbol, auric symbol, distance unit.
How do you use "au" in a sentence?
Of the sweets that I tasted in France, the ones that I'd like to eat most are the brioche, the baba au rhum and the marrons glacés.
Etymology
Borrowed from Cantonese 歐／欧 (ou1) or 區／区 (ou1) (Doublet of Ao), or from German Au.