au

¹ American  

[oh] / oʊ /

French.

plural

aux

1. to the; at the; with the.

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Au ² American  

abbreviation

1. author. Also au

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Au ³ American  

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. gold.

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AU ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. astronomical unit.

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A.U. ⁵ American  

Or a.u.

abbreviation

1. angstrom unit.

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Au ¹ British  

symbol

1. gold

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au ² British  

abbreviation

1. Australia

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AU ³ British  

abbreviation

1. African Union

2. Also: a.u..  angstrom unit

3. Also: a.u..  astronomical unit

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AU Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of astronomical unit

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Etymology

Origin of Au

From the Latin word aurum

Example Sentences

But with some notable exceptions—Henri-Georges Clouzot’s “Diabolique,” Julien Duvivier’s “Panique” and Jacques Becker’s “Touchez pas au Grisbi” among them—much of this tradition remains unknown to American viewers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

Here he is the 1919 go-between for Esther Nacht, a 14-year-old Jewish refugee whom he places with the Winslow family as an au pair.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2025

Coquilles Saint-Jacques is essentially a frou-frou description for scallops au gratin, more often prepared as a casserole than in those magical shells which are harder to find these days.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

Warnings are also in effect parts of Haiti including the capital, Port au Prince, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, where Melissa is anticipated to bring similar effects by the middle of next week.

From BBC • Oct. 26, 2025

“I’m going to teach you French. They say it better: au revoir. That’s till your return. Good-by always sounds so final.”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham