Word
uni
Phoneticsuni
US/ˈjuni/
UK/jˈuːni/
Definitions
01university
n. a short, informal word for university.
n. an informal clipping of university, widely used in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
“She is planning to study engineering when she goes to uni next year.”
“After finishing his A-levels, he decided to take a gap year before starting uni to travel through Southeast Asia.”
Informal · British English
Usage
Often used without an article when referring to the institution or the period of study.
Pitfall
I am going to the uni.
I am going to uni.
In British and Australian English, when talking about attending university as a student, we usually omit the article 'the'.
Synonyms
02sea urchin
n. the part of a sea urchin that you eat, often served in sushi.
n. the edible gonads of a sea urchin, considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine.
“The sushi chef prepared a fresh piece of uni for the final course.”
“Known for its creamy texture and briny flavour, high-quality uni is one of the most expensive items on a traditional omakase menu.”
Technical
Synonyms
03unicycle
n. a short way to say unicycle, which is a cycle with only one wheel.
n. an informal clipping of unicycle, referring to a vehicle with a single wheel.
“He practiced riding his uni in the park every afternoon.”
“The circus performer demonstrated remarkable balance while juggling clubs atop a six-foot-tall uni.”
Informal · Slang
Synonyms
Etymology
Named after the Etruscan goddess of love and fertility, Uni, which begins with the same letter as the provisional designation 2002 UX₂₅.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/uni