Pu
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Plutonium |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Science & Engineering, Writing & Everyday |
| Also written | PU |
Pu has three meanings. The most common are Plutonium (chemical element) and Polyurethane (chemistry); it can also stand for Pickup.
Meanings of Pu at a glance
| # | Pu stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plutonium | Science & Engineering › Chemical Element |
| 2 | Polyurethane | Science & Engineering › Chemistry |
| 3 | Pickup | Writing & Everyday › Classified Ad |
1. Plutonium
Science & Engineering · Chemical Element Abbreviations
Plutonium (atomic number 94) is a radioactive actinide made in nuclear reactors. Plutonium-239 is fissile and fueled the Trinity test and the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945; plutonium-238, which gives off steady heat, powers radioisotope generators on spacecraft such as Voyager and the Perseverance rover.
Example: Each generator holds about 4.8 kg of Pu-238 dioxide, producing roughly 110 watts at launch.
Glenn Seaborg, Edwin McMillan, Joseph Kennedy and Arthur Wahl produced plutonium at Berkeley in late 1940 and early 1941, and the work was kept secret during World War II. Following uranium and neptunium, it was named after Pluto, then considered the ninth planet. Seaborg said he chose the symbol Pu rather than Pl as a joke, expecting objections that never came.
2. Polyurethane (PU)
Science & Engineering · Chemistry Abbreviations
Large family of polymers made by reacting isocyanates with polyols, ranging from flexible foam in mattresses and car seats to rigid insulation and spray foam, varnishes, adhesives, elastic spandex fibers and synthetic leather.
Example: The countertop was sealed with two coats of water-based PU varnish.
Also abbreviated PUR. Otto Bayer and colleagues at IG Farben developed polyurethane chemistry in 1937. Spray-foam installation exposes workers to isocyanates, potent respiratory sensitizers, so protective equipment is essential. "PU leather" describes fabric coated with polyurethane, not genuine leather.
3. Pickup (PU)
Writing & Everyday · Classified Ad Abbreviations
Indicates that a buyer must collect an item in person, as in "local PU only," or arranges a collection time in marketplace ads and messages.
Example: Dresser, solid oak, $120, local PU only, must bring your own truck and helper.
"PU only" means the seller will not ship. Group posts may use PPU (porch pickup) or "curbside PU" for contactless options. In clothing listings, "PU leather" means polyurethane, a synthetic material, not a pickup.
Related abbreviations
More chemical element abbreviations
- Pm – Promethium
- Po – Polonium
- Pr – Praseodymium
- Pt – Platinum
- Ra – Radium
- Rb – Rubidium
- Re – Rhenium
- Rf – Rutherfordium
See all 118 chemical element abbreviations →