English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

nightcap

noun

An alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed.

nightclub

noun

A venue open late at night offering music, dancing, and drinks.

nightdress

noun

A loose garment, usually worn by women or girls, for sleeping in.

nightfall

noun

The time when day turns to night; dusk.

nightgown

noun

A loose, long garment worn for sleeping, typically by women.

nighthawk

noun

A North American nightjar bird, active at dusk and known for its distinctive booming courtship dive.

nightie

noun

An informal word for a nightdress or nightgown.

nightingale

noun

A small brownish songbird, native to Europe and parts of Africa and Asia, famous for its rich, often nighttime song.

nightlife

noun

The entertainment and social activity available in a city or area after dark, such as bars, clubs, and late-night venues.

nightly

adjective

Happening every night, or relating to the night.

nightmare

noun

A frightening or unpleasant dream.

nightmarish

adjective

Extremely unpleasant, frightening, or stressful, like a nightmare.

nights

adverb

During the night, especially on a regular or recurring basis.

nightshade

noun

Any of a group of plants in the genus Solanum, some of which are poisonous, including black nightshade and the highly toxic deadly nightshade.

nightshirt

noun

A long, loose shirt worn to bed, especially by men.

nightstand

noun

A small table or cabinet placed beside a bed, used to hold a lamp, alarm clock, or other items.

nightstick

noun

A long, sturdy club carried by police officers for self-defense and crowd control.

nighttime

noun

The hours of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

nighty

phrase

An informal shortening of "nighty night," used as a casual way of saying good night.

Nihal

name

A given name of Arabic and Turkish origin, meaning "fulfillment of a wish."

Nik

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Nikolai, Nicholas, or related names.

Nike

noun

In Greek mythology, the goddess who personified victory.

Nikhil

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "whole" or "entire."

Niki

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Nicole or Nikita.

Nikita

name

A given name of Greek origin meaning "victory," used as a masculine name in Russia and as a feminine name in the West.

Nikki

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive form of Nicole.

Nikko

noun

A felt-tip marker pen, originally from the Nikko brand, used informally (especially in Australia) as a generic term for any similar pen.

Niko

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Nikolaos or Nicholas used across several European languages.

Nikola

name

A masculine given name, a Slavic form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

Nikolai

name

A masculine given name, the Russian form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

Nikos

name

A masculine given name, the Greek short form of Nikolaos.

nil

noun

Nothing at all; zero.

Nile

name

A major river in northeastern Africa, the longest river in the world, flowing through Egypt and Sudan.

Niles

name

A masculine given name and surname related to Nile, and also the name of a city in Illinois, United States.

nim

verb

To take or steal something quickly and quietly.

nimble

adj

Able to move quickly, lightly, and with easy control.

nimbus

noun

A glowing ring or halo of light around a head, especially in religious art.

nimrod

noun

(American, informal) A foolish or clueless person.

nin

noun

An affectionate, informal term for a grandmother, used mainly in parts of Britain and Ireland.

nina

noun

A small hidden picture or message tucked into a finished piece of artwork, especially a caricature.

nincompoop

noun

A silly, foolish person.

nine

num

The number 9, one more than eight and one less than ten.

niner

noun

The digit 9, spoken this way in radio and aviation communication to avoid confusion with other numbers.

nines

noun

A pair of playing cards or dice both showing the value nine.

nineteen

num

The number 19, one more than eighteen and one less than twenty.

nineteenth

adj

Coming after eighteen others in a sequence; 19th.

nineties

noun

The decade running from a year ending in 90 to one ending in 99, especially the 1990s.

ninety

num

The number 90, one more than eighty-nine and one less than ninety-one.

Ning

name

A surname.

ninja

noun

Historically, a covert agent in feudal Japan trained in stealth, espionage, and combat.

ninny

noun

A foolish or silly person.

Nintendo

name

A major Japanese company famous for video games and game consoles, including Mario and the Switch.

ninth

adj

Coming after eight others in a sequence; 9th.

Niobe

noun

(literary) A woman overwhelmed by grief, especially one weeping endlessly for lost children.

nip

verb

To pinch or bite quickly and lightly.

nipper

noun

(informal, British) A young child.

nipping

noun

A quick pinch or bite.

nipple

noun

The small raised point on a breast through which a mother's milk can flow.

Nippon

name

Japan, especially as used in formal or patriotic contexts.

nippy

adj

(informal) Uncomfortably cold.

Niro

name

A surname of Italian origin, most familiar from the actor Robert De Niro.

nirvana

noun

In Buddhism and Hinduism, the state of perfect peace reached by escaping suffering and desire.

nis

noun

In Scandinavian folklore, a small household spirit or hobgoblin said to live on a farm.

Nisha

name

A female given name of Indian origin.

nishi

noun

In sumo wrestling, the west side of the ranking list, considered the less prestigious of the two sides.

Nishida

name

A Japanese surname meaning "west rice paddy."

Nishimura

name

A Japanese surname meaning "west village."

Nissan

name

A major Japanese automobile manufacturer.

Nisse

name

A masculine given name common in Scandinavia, a short form of Nils, and also the name of a household spirit in Nordic folklore.

nit

noun

The tiny egg of a louse, or the young louse itself, often found stuck to hair.

nitrate

noun

A chemical compound formed from nitric acid, commonly used in fertilizers and preservatives.

nitric

adj

Relating to or containing nitrogen.

nitro

noun

Short for nitroglycerin, especially as an explosive or as heart medication.

nitrogen

noun

The chemical element with symbol N, a colorless, odorless gas that makes up most of Earth's atmosphere.

nitrous

adj

Relating to or derived from nitrogen, especially in a lower-valence chemical form than "nitric" compounds.

nitwit

noun

A foolish or scatterbrained person.

niu

noun

A tall ceremonial pole hung with ropes, used in a Māori religious and resistance movement of the 19th century.

nix

noun

Nothing, zero.

Nixon

name

An English surname, most famously borne by Richard Nixon, the 37th US President.

No

det

Not any; none at all.

Noa

adj

Not under taboo; safe to say or use in place of a forbidden word or sacred name (used in anthropology, especially of Polynesian custom).

Noah

name

A figure in Abrahamic religious tradition said to have built an ark to survive a great flood.

Noam

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "pleasantness."

nob

noun

A informal, often mildly mocking British term for a wealthy or upper-class person.

nobby

adj

Stylish, smart, or fashionable in an upper-class way (informal, dated British).

Nobel

noun

Short for the Nobel Prize, one of the annual international awards for outstanding work in fields such as physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.

nobility

noun

The aristocratic social class, historically holding hereditary titles and privilege.

noble

noun

A member of the aristocracy.

nobleman

noun

A male member of the aristocracy, ranking anywhere from baron up to prince.

Nobles

name

An English surname derived from the word "noble," originally denoting someone of high rank or a person in a noble's service.

nobly

adv

In a noble, honorable manner.

nobody

pron

Not any person; no one.

Nobuko

name

A Japanese feminine given name meaning "faithful child" or "trusting child."

Nobunaga

name

A masculine given name, most famously borne by Oda Nobunaga, a powerful daimyo who began the unification of Japan in the 16th century.

nocturnal

adj

Mainly active at night rather than during the day.

nod

verb

To move the head up and down, usually to show agreement or acknowledgment.

Noda

name

A Japanese surname meaning "field of paddies."

nodding

noun

The act of moving the head up and down.

node

noun

A device connected to a computer network, such as a server or workstation.

Noel

noun

A traditional Christmas carol or hymn.

Noelle

name

A feminine given name of French origin, often given to girls born around Christmas.

nog

noun

A small block of wood built into a wall or structure, used as a support.

Nogales

name

A pair of twin border cities, one in Arizona, United States, and one in Sonora, Mexico.

Noh

noun

A classical, highly stylized form of Japanese musical theatre, or a single play performed in that style.

noir

adj

Relating to film noir or its dark, morally ambiguous atmosphere.

noirish

adj

Having the visual style or mood typical of film noir.

noise

noun

A sound, especially one that is loud, unwanted, or unpleasant.

noisily

adv

In a loud or noisy manner.

noisy

adj

Making a loud or unpleasant sound.

Nokia

noun

A phone made by the Finnish company Nokia, once famous for its tough, long-lasting handsets.

nola

noun

A tiny bell rung during a church consecration ceremony.

Nolan

noun

An Irish surname, and a first name derived from it.

nom

interjection

Used playfully to express the sound or joy of eating.

noma

noun

A severe gangrenous infection that destroys tissue, usually around the mouth and face.

nomad

noun

Someone who has no permanent home and moves from place to place, especially herding animals between pastures.

nomadic

adjective

Relating to nomads or a wandering way of life.

nome

noun

A regional administrative district, especially in modern Greece or ancient Egypt.

nominal

adjective

Existing in name only, rather than in reality or practice.

nominate

verb

To formally propose someone as a candidate for a role, award, or position.

nominated

adjective

Having been put forward as a candidate for an award, role, or position.

nomination

noun

The act of proposing someone as a candidate, or the proposal itself.

nominee

noun

A person put forward as a candidate for an office, award, or position.

Nomura

name

A Japanese surname, also well known as the name of a major financial services company.

non

noun

A non-Muslim citizen, chiefly in historical or legal contexts.

Nona

noun

In Roman mythology, one of the three Fates, who spins the thread of a person's life.

nonce

noun

A single, specific occasion, used mainly in the phrase "for the nonce."

nonchalant

adjective

Calm, relaxed, and seemingly unbothered by something that might normally cause concern.

nondescript

adjective

Lacking any distinctive or memorable features; plain and unremarkable.

none

pronoun

Not any; not one of a group.

nonetheless

adverb

In spite of what has just been said; nevertheless.

nonexistent

adjective

Not existing; not real.

nonfat

adjective

Containing no fat, especially describing dairy products.

nong

noun

(Australian/British slang) A foolish or stupid person.

noni

noun

A Polynesian fruit tree, or its fruit, sometimes made into a juice claimed to have health benefits.

nonna

noun

A grandmother, especially one of Italian heritage.

nonny

interjection

A nonsense refrain used in old ballads and songs, with no literal meaning.

nonprofit

adjective

Not operated with the goal of making a financial profit.

nonsense

noun

Words, ideas, or behavior that make no sense or have no logical meaning.

nonsensical

adjective

Making no sense; absurd or illogical.

nonstop

adjective

Continuing without any pause or stop, especially for a journey.

nonviolence

noun

A philosophy or practice of pursuing change through peaceful means rather than force.

noo

adverb

(Scots/Northern English dialect) Now.

noob

noun

Someone who is new and inexperienced, especially in a game, hobby, or online community.

noodle

noun

A long, thin strip of pasta or dough, often served in soups or stir-fries.

noogie

noun

A playful gesture of rubbing one's knuckles roughly on someone's head, usually while holding them in a light headlock.

nook

noun

A small, cozy corner or recess in a room or space.

Nooks

noun

Plural of nook — small corners or hidden spots.

noon

noun

Twelve o'clock in the middle of the day.

noona

noun

A Korean term used by a man to affectionately address an older sister or older female friend.

Noonan

name

An Irish surname, an anglicized form of Ó Nuanáin.