English dictionary — definitions & meanings

notify

verb

To tell someone officially about something; to inform.

noting

verb

Writing something down or mentioning it so it is recorded or remembered.

notion

noun

An idea, belief, or understanding about something.

notional

adj

Of, containing, or being a notion; mental or imaginary.

notionally

adv

In a notional, imaginary or speculative sense; in theory.

notoriety

noun

The state of being well known for something bad; infamy.

notorious

adj

Famous or well known for something bad.

notoriously

adv

In a way that is widely known, usually for something negative or difficult.

Notre-Dame

proper noun

The medieval Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in Paris, begun in the twelfth century and badly damaged by fire in 2019.

notwithstanding

prep

In spite of; despite.

nougat

noun

A chewy confection made from whipped sugar or honey, often with nuts folded in.

nought

noun

Zero; the number or figure representing nothing.

noughties

noun

The decade consisting of the last year of the previous century and the first nine years of the next: from 1900 to 1909, 2000 to 2009, etc.

noumenon

noun

A thing as it is independent of any conceptualization or perception by the human mind, postulated by practical reason but existing in a condition which is in principle unknowable and unexperienceable.

noun

noun

A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

nourish

verb

To feed something so it grows and stays healthy.

nourished

adj

Given the food or care needed to be healthy.

nourishing

adj

Providing the nutrients needed for health and growth.

nourishment

noun

Food or nutrients needed to live and grow; the act of providing them.

nous

noun

Practical common sense; the ability to think and act sensibly.

nouveau

adj

New or fashionably modern, often used ironically or in borrowed French phrases.

nov

name

Alternative letter-case form of Nov (“November”).

Nova

noun

A star that suddenly becomes much brighter for a period before fading back.

Novak

name

A surname and occasional given name of Czech, Slovak, or South Slavic origin, historically meaning "newcomer."

novation

noun

The replacement of a contract, or of one of the parties to it, by a new agreement that all parties consent to, so that the original obligations are extinguished.

novel

adj

New and original, in an interesting or unusual way.

novelist

noun

A person who writes novels.

novelize

verb

To adapt something to a fictional form, especially to adapt into a novel.

novelty

noun

The quality of being new, unusual, or interesting because it hasn't been seen before.

November

noun

The eleventh month of the year, between October and December.

novice

noun

Someone who is new to an activity or skill and still learning the basics.

novitiate

noun

The period during which a novice of a religious order undergoes training.

novocastrian

adj

Of or relating to Newcastle upon Tyne or Newcastle, New South Wales.

novocentenary

adj

Of or relating to a 900th anniversary

novomoskovsk

name

Former name of Samar

Novotny

name

A surname of Czech origin.

novum

noun

A new feature, a novelty.

now

adv

At this present moment.

nowadays

adv

In the present time, as opposed to the past.

nowell

noun

Archaic spelling of noel.

nowhere

adv

Not in, at, or to any place.

nowt

pron

Nothing (a Northern English dialect form).

nox

noun

Any of several nitrogen oxide gases produced by burning fuel, a major source of air pollution.

noxious

adj

Harmful or poisonous, especially to health.

Nozomi

name

A feminine Japanese given name, also meaning "wish" or "hope."

nozzle

noun

A narrow, often tapered spout fitted to a pipe or hose to control the flow of a liquid or gas.

np

abbreviation

No problem; a casual reply to thanks or to an apology.

NPO

abbreviation

Nothing by mouth; an instruction that a patient must not eat or drink, usually before surgery or a procedure, or because swallowing is unsafe.

Nri

name

A medieval West African kingdom of the Nri-Igbo people, a subgroup of the Igbo.

Ns

symbol

An abbreviation used in weather reporting for nimbostratus, a thick, grey rain cloud.

NSFW

adjective

Not safe for work: a warning that a link, image or video contains material — usually sexual, graphic or crude — that would be inappropriate to open in a workplace or public setting.

NTM

abbreviation

Nothing much; a casual reply in texting and chat to questions such as 'what are you doing?'.

nu

noun

The thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ν, ν).

nuala

name

A female given name from Irish.

nuance

noun

A subtle difference or shade of meaning, feeling, or tone.

nuanced

adj

Showing careful attention to small but meaningful differences; not simplistic.

nub

noun

The central point or essence of a matter.

nubbin

noun

A stub, especially a stub of undeveloped corn or fruit or nipple.

nubble

verb

To beat or bruise with the fist.

Nubia

name

A historical region along the Nile in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

Nubian

adj

Relating to Nubia or its people.

nubile

adj

Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).

nuby

noun

An article of clothing similar to a scarf or a shawl.

nucca

noun

A bowdlerization of nigga.

nucha

noun

The spinal cord.

nuchal

noun

The back of the neck.

nuclear

adj

Relating to the nucleus of an atom, or to energy released by splitting or joining atomic nuclei.

nuclear family

noun

A household made up of two parents and their dependent children, living apart from grandparents and other relatives.

nucleoplasm

noun

The protoplasm of a cell nucleus

nucleosynthesis

noun

Any of several processes that lead to the synthesis of heavier atomic nuclei.

nucleus

noun

The central, positively charged part of an atom, made of protons and neutrons.

nude

adj

Wearing no clothes; naked.

nudge

verb

To push someone or something gently, often to get their attention.

nudging

noun

The act of giving a nudge; pushing, touching.

nudie

adj

Featuring nudity; showing people with no clothes on.

nudism

noun

The belief in or practice of going nude in social, nonsexualized and frequently mixed-gender groups specifically in cultures where going nude in the social situation is not the norm.

nudist

noun

A person who practises nudism, believing clothing is unnecessary in appropriate settings.

nudity

noun

The state of not wearing any clothes.

nudiustertian

adj

Of or relating to the day before yesterday; very recent.

nudnik

noun

A person who is very annoying; a pest, a nag, a jerk.

nuel

adj

Prone; tending to.

Nugent

name

A surname of Norman origin, also used as place names in Australia and the Caribbean.

nugget

noun

A small rounded lump, especially of gold or other precious metal found in its natural state.

nuggets

intj

Used to express mild annoyance or frustration, similar to "darn" or "rats."

nuh

adv

An informal spelling used to represent a casual or dialectal pronunciation of "no".

nuisance

noun

A minor annoyance or source of inconvenience.

nuke

noun

A nuclear weapon.

null

adj

Having no legal or binding force; invalid.

nullification

noun

The act of nullifying; a rendering void and of no effect, or no legal effect.

nullifidianism

noun

The beliefs or doctrines of the nullifidians.

nullify

verb

To make legally invalid.

nulliverse

noun

The world, regarded as having no rationality or rules.

num

intj

An expression imitating the sound of eating, used to show that food tastes good.

numb

adj

Unable to feel physical sensation, especially because of cold or pressure on a nerve.

numbat

noun

A small marsupial carnivore, Myrmecobius fasciatus, endemic to western Australia, that eats almost exclusively termites.

number

noun

A value used to count, measure, or label something.

numbered

adj

Marked or labelled with a number.

numbering

noun

A system or sequence of numbers used to label items.

numberless

adj

Without number; having too many to count.

Numbers

noun

Plural of number: quantities, figures, or amounts, especially when discussing statistics.

numbersome

adj

Characterized by (great) number; numerous.

numbfish

noun

An electric ray of the family Narcinidae, capable of delivering numbing shocks.

numbing

adj

Causing a loss of physical or emotional sensation.

numbness

noun

A loss of physical sensation in part of the body.

numbnuts

noun

A slang, mildly mocking term for a foolish or clumsy person.

numerable

adj

Able to be counted; countable.

numeracy

noun

Numerical skill.

numeral

noun

A symbol that is not a word and represents a number, such as the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3 or the Roman numerals I, V, X, L.

numeration

noun

The act of counting or numbering; enumeration.

numeric

adj

Of or relating to numbers, especially the characters 0 to 9.

numerical

adj

Relating to, or expressed in, numbers.

numericalize

verb

To quantify or represent with numbers.

numerically

adv

In a numerical manner.

numero

noun

A number, especially used in the phrase "numero uno" to mean the best or the first.

numerous

adj

Existing or occurring in large numbers; many.

numinous

adj

Of or relating to a numen (divinity); indicating the presence of a divinity.

numps

name

A diminutive of the male given name Humphrey.

numskull

noun

A dunce, mentally dull or stupid person.

nun

noun

A woman who has taken religious vows and lives in a convent, typically as part of a Christian order.

Nuna

name

An alternate name for the ancient supercontinent Columbia.

nuncheon

noun

A drink or light snack taken in the afternoon; a refreshment between meals.

nuncle

noun

Aunt or uncle; sibling of a parent (regardless of gender).

Nunez

name

A Spanish surname (also spelled Núñez).

nunnery

noun

A community of nuns, or the building where they live; a convent.

nuprin

noun

Brand name for ibuprofen.

nuptial

adj

Relating to marriage or a wedding.

nuptials

noun

A wedding ceremony.

Nur

name

A township in Qira County, in the Hotan prefecture of China's Xinjiang region.

Nuremberg

name

A city in Bavaria, Germany, historically notable for its medieval old town and as the site of the post-World War II war crimes trials.

Nuri

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, related to a word meaning "light."

nurse

noun

A person trained to care for the sick or injured, typically working under a doctor.

nursemaid

noun

A woman employed to care for young children, especially in the past.

nursery

noun

A place where nursing (“breastfeeding”) or the raising of children is carried on.

nurseryman

noun

A person who rears and sells plants in a nursery.

nursing

noun

The profession or practice of caring for the sick, injured, or elderly.

nursling

noun

A young child or animal being nursed.

nurture

noun

Care and encouragement given to help someone or something grow and develop.

nurturing

adj

Caring and supportive, especially in a way that encourages growth or development.

nustle

verb

To take care of fondly; to cherish; to nurse.

nut

noun

A hard-shelled seed or dry fruit, often edible.

nutbag

noun

An odd, eccentric or insane person.

nutbar

noun

A crazy, eccentric person.

nutcase

noun

Informal: a crazy, eccentric, or foolish person.

Nutella

name

A brand of chocolate and hazelnut spread.

nutgall

noun

A kind of gall on a tree formed in response to damage or parasite, with a nut-like shape.

nuthook

noun

A hook on a pole to pull down boughs for gathering nuts.

nuthouse

noun

Informal and offensive: a psychiatric hospital, or figuratively, any chaotic place.

nutmeg

noun

The aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, ground and used as a spice.

nutrient

noun

A substance that provides nourishment needed for growth and the maintenance of life.

nutriment

noun

A source of nourishment; food.