Word
GNU
Phoneticsgnu
US/ˈnu/
UK/ɡənˈuː/
Definitions
01the animal
n. a large African antelope with curved horns and a long tail.
n. a large African antelope of the genus Connochaetes, characterized by a large head, shaggy mane, and curved horns.
“We watched a large herd of gnu cross the river during our safari.”
“The annual migration of the gnu across the Serengeti remains one of the most spectacular sights in the natural world.”
Synonyms
02computing project
n. a project that creates free computer software that anyone can use or change.
n. a recursive acronym for 'GNU's Not Unix', referring to a project and collection of free software that forms a complete Unix-like operating system.
“Many developers prefer using GNU tools because the code is open to everyone.”
“The GNU project was instrumental in establishing the legal and philosophical framework for the modern free software movement.”
Technical
Synonyms
03political coalition
n. Stands for Government of National Unity.
n. Abbreviation for Government of National Unity. Refers to a broad coalition government consisting of all major parties in the legislature.
“After the disputed election, the parties agreed to form a GNU to stabilize the country.”
“The formation of a GNU was seen as a necessary compromise to prevent further civil unrest following the collapse of the previous administration.”
Formal · Technical
Usage
Usually used with the definite article 'the GNU'.
Synonyms
Etymology
Coined by Richard Stallman in 1983 as a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix”, following convention of naming programs similar to or inspired by existing programs as “(New Name) Is Not (Old Name)”; compare Xinu. Specifically influenced by lack of English words of form ?nu (“?NU is Not Unix”), that gnu is the alphabetically first (and in fact only) English word of the form ?nu (“?’s Not Unix”), that gnu was perceived as a humorous word, and the existence of the song “The Gnu”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/gnu