Definition

The 20th letter of the Greek alphabet, represented by the symbol Υ (uppercase) or υ (lowercase). It is also used in various scientific contexts, including particle physics.

Example

In mathematics, the letter upsilon is often used to represent certain variables.

Conversation

Did you know that upsilon is the 20th letter of the Greek alphabet?

Really? I always thought it was a more obscure letter.

Yeah, it's interesting how many letters we use from different alphabets.

For sure! I wonder if it has any special meanings in science.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Upsilon comes from the Greek letter 'Υ' (upsilon), which is derived from the Phoenician letter 'waw' (meaning hook or peg). The name 'upsilon' itself means 'the letter U' in Greek, representing the sound /u/ or /y/ in various contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek letter 'upsilon' as a symbol that represents the sound 'U' — this helps you remember that 'upsilon' is specifically the name of that letter.

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