au

symbol

the chemical element gold.

from Latin aurum .

1. African Union.
2. angstrom unit(s).
3. astronomical unit(s).

noun

a unit of measurement equal to 149.6 million kilometres, the mean distance from the centre of the earth to the centre of the sun.

1. a yellow precious metal, the chemical element of atomic number 79, used especially in jewellery and decoration and to guarantee the value of currencies.
2. a deep lustrous yellow or yellow-brown colour.

   her eyes were light green and flecked with gold

3. coins or other articles made of gold.

   her ankles and wrists were glinting with gold

4. the bullseye of an archery target.

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch goud and German Gold, from an Indo-European root shared by yellow.