- IOU
- n. a signed document acknowledging a debt.
Etymology: = I owe you
* * *
nounan informal debt instrument; representing `I owe you'• Hypernyms: ↑note, ↑promissory note, ↑note of hand* * *
\\|ī(ˌ)ō|yü\ noun (-s)Etymology: from the pronunciation of I owe you: a paper that has on it the letters IOU and a signature as an acknowledgment of debt, that names a sum of money, and that is sometimes used as the equivalent of a promissory note* * *
a written acknowledgment of a debt, esp. an informal one consisting only of the letters IOU, the sum owed, and the debtor's signature.Also, I.O.U.[1610-20; repr. I owe you]* * *
IOU /ī-ō-ūˈ/nounA signed slip of paper or other document acknowledging a debt (esp of money) to a specified person, stating the date and nature of the debtORIGIN: Pronunciation of I owe you* * *
a piece of paper that you sign to say that you owe someone an amount of money. The letters ‘IOU’ sound like the words ‘I owe you’.* * *
n. a signed document acknowledging a debtOrigin:late 18th cent.: representing the pronunciation of I owe you* * *
/ˌaıˌoʊˈjuː/ noun, pl IOUs [count]informal : a usually written promise to pay a debtI don't have any cash, so I'll have to give you an IOU.
— often used figurativelyThe governor has acquired some political IOUs over the years. [=other people owe the governor political favors]
◇ IOU is from the pronunciation of the phrase “I owe you.”* * *
a written promise that you will pay sb the money you owe them (a way of writing ‘I owe you’)•
an IOU for £100
Word Origin:[IOU] late 18th cent.: representing the pronunciation of I owe you.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.