Omicron

/ˈoʊməˌkɹɑn/ name, noun

name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The 15th letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets (16th in Ancient and Old Greek), used in ordering lists as in naming (astronomy) the 15th star of a constellation or (epidemiology) the 15th discovered major variant of a disease.
  • Grammar: omicron is listed as name, noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: alphabetic symbol, greek letter, letter, star designation.
  • Useful contrasts: omega.
  • Usage evidence: Thanks to covid-19, we'll eventually learn the Greek alphabet. The letter of the month is omicron.

How to use "omicron"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "omicron" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. 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 "omicron" 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 "omicron" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "omicron" 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 "omicron" is acting as name, noun 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 "alphabetic symbol" 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 "omicron", 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. 1
    The 15th letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets (16th in Ancient and Old Greek), used in ordering lists as in naming (astronomy) the 15th star of a constellation or (epidemiology) the 15th discovered major variant of a disease. capitalized, sometimes

    "Your Majestie knows that unfortunate I [...] was the first who when I published my Poem of Italia Liberata endeavoured to bring the Omicron, Eupselon, Omega, and other Greek Letters, which I thought very requisite for that language, into my own Tongue;"

  2. 2
    Ellipsis of Omicron variant. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable
  3. 3
    Ellipsis of Omicron variant. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable
  4. 4
    Alternative form of omicron (Greek letter) (especially in the majuscule form) alt-of, alternative, countable
  5. 5
    the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Ellipsis of Omicron Hill: a mountain in North Slope borough, Alaska, United States. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

Synonyms

All synonyms
alphabetic symbolgreek letterletterstar designationstellar designation

Antonyms

Example

"Thanks to covid-19, we'll eventually learn the Greek alphabet. The letter of the month is omicron."

Common questions

What does "omicron" mean?

The 15th letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets (16th in Ancient and Old Greek), used in ordering lists as in naming (astronomy) the 15th star of a constellation or (epidemiology) the 15th discovered major variant of a disease.

What is a synonym for "omicron"?

Common synonyms include: alphabetic symbol, greek letter, letter, star designation, stellar designation.

How do you use "omicron" in a sentence?

Thanks to covid-19, we'll eventually learn the Greek alphabet. The letter of the month is omicron.

How do you pronounce "omicron"?

Pronounced /ˈoʊməˌkɹɑn/.

Etymology

From Latin omicron, from Koine Greek ὂ μῑκρόν (ò mīkrón, “little o”), named in contrast with omega (“big o”). The uncommon form omicra is similarly borrowed from Latin and Greek. The use for designating stars in a constellation—typically in order of apparent brightness—began with Johann Bayer's 1603 Uranometria.

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