eu
/ˌiːˈjuː/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈijˌu] /ˌiːˈjuː/ (ame, ipa)
eu — noun
1. the short written form of 'European Union,' used in news, official papers, and e
the short written form of 'European Union,' used in news, official papers, and everyday talk to refer to the political and economic group of 27 European countries
Joaquín works for an EU agency that checks food safety across all member countries.
EU + noun: EU agency
The EU passed a data-protection law that forced Sofie's Brussels café to post a privacy notice in the window.
EU as subject of a sentence
Sweden joined the EU in 1995 after a national vote on the question.
Trade in olive oil between the EU and Japan jumped twelve percent last year, helping farms across Greece and Spain.
Farmers in Greece receive money from the EU each growing season to stay in business.
- European Union
the full name; use EU in writing after the first mention
文法句型
EU + noun
用法筆記
Always written in capital letters (EU, never 'eu'). Pronounced as two separate letters: 'ee-yoo.' Commonly found in news reports, official documents, and on product labels.
常見錯誤
eu — symbol
1. the chemical symbol for europium, a soft silver-white metal that belongs to the
the chemical symbol for europium, a soft silver-white metal that belongs to the lanthanide series and is used in television screens and security features on banknotes
Anong's chemistry class learned that europium (Eu) makes the red glow in TV screens.
europium (Eu)
Mira's lab report on the Swedish mine samples listed Eu among the trace rare-earth elements she detected.
Inspector Johansson shone a UV lamp on the fifty-euro note and watched the europium (Eu) security marker glow bright red.
Tunde used europium oxide (Eu₂O₃) in the experiment to produce a bright red phosphor powder.
Mining companies in China extract europium (Eu) from monazite ore for factories that make electronics.
文法句型
Eu
用法筆記
Written with a capital E and lowercase u: Eu. Not to be confused with EU (the European Union). The element name 'europium' is spelled out in full on first use in a text; the symbol Eu is used in formulas and tables.
常見錯誤
eu — combining form
1. a prefix meaning 'in a good, easy, or healthy way' — found at the start of words
a prefix meaning 'in a good, easy, or healthy way' — found at the start of words formed from Greek roots, describing how something happens or what state it is in
A wave of euphoria swept through the stadium when the home team scored the winning goal.
euphoria = feeling of intense well-being
The debate over euthanasia divided the hospital staff into two strong opposing camps.
euthanasia = easy/good death
After the long winter, the first sunny day filled everyone in the park with euphoria.
The vet explained that euthanasia was the kindest choice for the old dog in constant pain.
Stefan felt a rush of pure euphoria as he crossed the marathon finish line.
- bene-
Latin equivalent also meaning 'well'; found in 'benefit' and 'benevolent'
- dys-
Greek prefix meaning 'badly' or 'with difficulty'; found in 'dysfunction' and 'dystopia'
文法句型
eu- + root word
用法筆記
Distinguish from combining form sense 2 (GOOD QUALITY): this sense describes manner or state (how something is done or felt), not moral or qualitative goodness.
2. a prefix meaning 'good in quality or character' — used at the beginning of words
a prefix meaning 'good in quality or character' — used at the beginning of words derived from Greek to describe something pleasant, praiseworthy, or of high standard
The nurse used the euphemism 'passed away' when telling young Ife that his grandfather was gone.
euphemism = good/pleasant speech
Min delivered a moving eulogy at her grandfather's funeral service last Saturday morning.
eulogy = good words of praise
Sofie revised her wedding toast twelve times, choosing each word for euphony so the speech would sound like a song.
Companies often hide behind the euphemism 'downsizing' when they are really cutting people's jobs.
Owen's eulogy made everyone in the room both laugh and cry at the very same time.
- bene-
Latin equivalent meaning 'good'; found in 'benefactor' and 'benevolent'
文法句型
eu- + root word
用法筆記
Distinguish from combining form sense 1 (EASILY; WELL): this sense is about quality or character (what something is like), not manner or state. A eulogy is good speech (quality), while euphoria is feeling good (state).
3. a prefix meaning 'genuine, true, or proper' — found in a small number of Greek-d
a prefix meaning 'genuine, true, or proper' — found in a small number of Greek-derived words where it signals authenticity or correctness rather than mere pleasantness
Ife closed the dystopian novel, shaken by its world where eugenics boards decided which couples could legally have a baby.
eugenics = true/good breeding
In 1927, American biologist Charles Davenport urged lawmakers to adopt eugenics policies for 'improving' the national gene pool.
Talia found a 1924 immigration file in the archives showing her great-grandmother was denied entry under eugenics-based quota laws.
Mira underlined Aristotle's definition of eudaimonia in her notebook: a life lived with virtue and reason, not just pleasure.
Sofie shut the magazine, sickened by the eugenics article detailing forced sterilisations at a 1930s Virginia asylum.
文法句型
eu- + root word
用法筆記
This is the rarest meaning of eu-. Most words with eu- use sense 1 or 2. Sense 3 appears mainly in philosophical and scientific terms like 'eugenics' and 'eudaimonia.'