us

views updated May 21 2018

us / əs/ • pron. [first person pl.] 1. used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people as the object of a verb or preposition: let us know we asked him to come with us both of us. Compare with we. ∎  used after the verb “to be” and after “than” or “as”: it's us or them they are richer than us. ∎ inf. to or for ourselves: we got us some good hunting. 2. inf. me: give us a kiss.PHRASES: one of us a person recognized as an accepted member of a particular group, typically one that is exclusive in some way.us and them (or them and us) expressing a sense of division within a group of people: negotiations were hampered by an “us and them” attitude between management and unions.

US

views updated Jun 27 2018

US • abbr. ∎  United States. ∎ Brit. undersecretary. ∎ Brit., inf. unserviceable; useless.

us

views updated May 29 2018

us d. and acc. of WE. OE. ūs = OS. ūs, (M)Du. ons, (O)HG. uns, ON. oss, Goth. uns :- Gmc. *uns :- IE. *ns, reduced grade of *nes (Skr. nas).

US

views updated Jun 11 2018

US n. ultrasound scan. See ultrasonography.

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