I. -y 1 /i/ BrE AmE suffix [in adjectives]
1 . full of something or covered with something:
sugary desserts (=full of sugar)
dirty hands (=covered with dirt)
a hairy chest (=covered with hair)
2 . having a quality or feeling, or tending to do something:
a messy room
curly hair (=hair that curls)
feeling sleepy
3 . like or typical of something:
a cold wintry day (=typical of winter)
his long, horsy face (=he looks like a horse)
4 . fond of or interested in something:
a horsy woman (=who likes riding horses)
—-ily suffix [in adverbs]
—-iness suffix [in nouns]
II. -y 2 BrE AmE suffix [in nouns]
1 . ( also -ie ) used to make a word or name less formal, and often to show that you care about them – used especially when talking to children:
Where’s little Johnny?
my daddy (=my father)
What a nice doggy (=dog) !
2 . used to make nouns from some verbs to show an action:
the expiry date (=the date when something ↑ expire s )
an inquiry (=the act of ↑ inquiring about something)