emu

1 of 2

noun

: a swift-running Australian ratite bird (Dromaius novae-hollandiae) with undeveloped wings that is smaller than the ostrich

Illustration of emu

Illustration of emu

emu

2 of 2

abbreviation

electromagnetic unit

Examples of emu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lemu the emu is stretching his legs freely for the first time in his life. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 14 June 2022 Studies investigating emu oil have used varying amounts of the product. Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 28 Feb. 2024 These were ordinary emu eggs, imported from Australia. Sanaë Lemoine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 But not all the credit goes to the emu himself, of course. Elliot Lewis, NBC News, 19 July 2022 Emmanuel the emu is battling avian influenza, his caretaker, Taylor Blake, tweeted Saturday. Kurt Chirbas, NBC News, 16 Oct. 2022 Cassowary Survival Instincts In a hypothetical scenario where an emu invades a cassowary's territory, the emu is more likely to retreat at the first sign of danger, especially when protecting its chicks. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024 Frates asked anyone who spots the emu to call the shelter at 508-947-3891. Talia Lissauer, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 These claws, combined with their powerful legs, allow cassowaries to deliver potent and potentially lethal kicks, which could overwhelm an emu in a fight. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

modification of Portuguese ema cassowary

First Known Use

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emu was in 1656

Dictionary Entries Near emu

Cite this Entry

“Emu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emu. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

emu

noun
ˈē-myü
: a swift-running Australian bird with undeveloped wings that is related to but smaller than the ostrich

More from Merriam-Webster on emu

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