K

¹

or k

[ key ]

noun

, plural K's or Ks, k's or ks.

1. the eleventh letter of the English alphabet, a consonant.
2. any sound represented by the letter K or k, as in bilk, kit, or sick.
3. something having the shape of a K .
4. a written or printed representation of the letter K or k.
5. a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter K or k.

K

²

abbreviation for

1. the number 1000:

   The salary offered is $20K.

2. kilometer, especially in a footrace or wheelchair race on a road or track:

   She’s training to run her first 10K this summer.

K

³

abbreviation for

1. Chess. king.
2. Physics. Kelvin.
3. Music. Köchel listing.
4. kindergarten:

   a K–12 boarding school.

5. Real Estate. kitchen.

K

⁴

Symbol.

1. the eleventh in order or in a series.
2. Computers.
   1. the number 1024 or 2 10 :

      A binary 32K memory has 32,768 positions.

   2. kilobyte ( def ).
3. Baseball. strikeout; strikeouts.
4. Physics. kaon ( def ).
5. Biochemistry. lysine ( def ).
6. Chemistry. potassium ( def ).

k

⁵

Symbol.

1. Mathematics. a vector on the z-axis, having length 1 unit.
2. Boltzmann constant.

K

⁶

abbreviation for

, Ecology.

1. carrying capacity.

k.

⁷

abbreviation for

1. Electricity. capacity.
2. karat.
3. kilogram; kilograms.
4. Chess. king.
5. knight.
6. knot.
7. kopeck.

K.

⁸

abbreviation for

1. kip; kips.
2. Knight.
3. kwacha.

K

¹

symbol for

1. kelvin(s)
2. chess king
3. chem potassium
4. physics kaon
5. currency
   1. kina
   2. kip
   3. kopeck
   4. kwacha
   5. kyat
6. one thousand
7. computing
   1. a unit of 1024 words, bits, or bytes
   2. (not in technical usage) 1000

abbreviation for

1. Cambodia (international car registration)

K

²

abbreviation for

1. Köchel: indicating the serial number in the catalogue (1862) of the works of Mozart made by Ludwig von Köchel (1800–77)

k

³

/ keɪ /

noun

1. the 11th letter and 8th consonant of the modern English alphabet
2. a speech sound represented by this letter, usually a voiceless velar stop, as in kitten
3. See five Ks

k

⁴

symbol for

1. kilo(s)
2. maths the unit vector along the z-axis

Word History and Origins

Origin of K¹

Abbreviation of kilo- K ²fordef 1; abbreviation of kilometer ( def ) K ²fordef 2

Origin of K²

K ⁴def 6 from German Kalium

Word History and Origins

Origin of K¹

(for sense 3) from New Latin kalium ; (for sense 6) from kilo- ; (for sense 8) from Kampuchea

Example Sentences

We had the big drop, and for much of the country who are on the up part of the K, things are pretty good.

From Washington Post

It goes considerably beyond the simple mix of N, P, and K that plants need to grow.

From Nautilus

The system also allows for 4K passthrough with HDR, which maintains the integrity of the signal sent from your high-end TV.

From Popular-Science

Japan last claimed the top spot with its K computer in 2011.

From Singularity Hub 

“Please, please do not permit this to happen here in Florida,” wrote Cris K. Smith of East Polk County.

From The Daily Beast

His monotonous music is, really, like the audio soundtrack to a k-hole.

From The Daily Beast

Only the L, K, and A of the old sign remain stuck to the side of the office.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe giving Deborah K. Jones, our Ambassador to Libya, a 9mm SIG Sauer and a pair of nunchucks.

From The Daily Beast

She alleges that he and twenty-or-so named colleagues collectively abused “alcohol, cocaine, mushrooms, Special-K, heroin.”

From The Daily Beast

What more could one desire of him, I pray, Than just to hop around and stand for K?

From Project Gutenberg

Had he not meant the Fleet to shove in K. must have made some reference to the second Division, surely.

From Project Gutenberg

In writing K. I try to convey the truth in terms which will neither give him needless anxiety or undue confidence.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, to steer a middle course between my duty to my force and my loyalty to K. is not so simple as it might seem.

From Project Gutenberg

As a fighting unit they are on their last legs and when they will be set upon their feet again Lord K. knows.

From Project Gutenberg