Added 10 October 2026
v
/v/ noun
Latin root: lower Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about v at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt; equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of 1 ohm when 1 ampere of current flows through it.
- A soft silvery white toxic metallic element used in steel alloys; it occurs in several complex minerals including carnotite and vanadinite.
- The cardinal number that is the sum of four and one.
adjective
- Being one more than four.
Origin
From Middle English lower case letter v (also written u), from Old English lower case u and respelling of Old English f between vowels and voiced consonants. * Old English lower case f from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case f of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚠ (f, “feoh”), derived from Etruscan letter 𐌅 (v). * Old English lower case u from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case v of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚢ (u, “ur”), derived from Raetic letter u. Before the 1700s, the pointed form v was written at the beginning of a word, while a rounded form u was used elsewhere, regardless of sound.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)