English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
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adj

novel

NO-vuhl
adj
1
New and original, in an interesting or unusual way.
"Her novel approach to the problem impressed the whole team."
"It was a novel idea nobody had tried before."
noun
1
A long work of fiction written in prose.
"He spent the summer writing his first novel."

How to Use Novel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs an adjective: new and interesting. As a noun: a book-length story.

Common pairings
a novel idea write a novel graphic novel

Word Forms

more novel comparative, novels plural, novels plural, novels plural, most novel superlative

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Her _____ approach to the problem impressed the whole team.

Etymology

From Old French novel, "new," ultimately from Latin novus. The adjective and the fiction genre share this same root — both are about something "new."

Rhymes for novel

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial