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narrow-minded
nano- see WORD FORMATION TABLE
nan-o-tech-nol-o-gy /'nænəutek,nplədʒil-,nə:-/ n [C;U] machinery, methods etc which can perform processes extremely quickly or make or measure objects which are extremely small: Computer circuitry now includes advanced processes made possible by nanotechnology.
Nan-tuck-et /næn'tʌkǝt/ an island off the coast of Massachusetts in the US. It used to be a port for ships hunting WHALES, but it is now a popular place for holidays, and many wealthy people have summer homes there.
nap¹ /næp/ n a short sleep, especially during the day: Father always takes/has a nap in the afternoon. ➔ compare SIESTA
nap² v -pp- [I] 1 to take a nap 2 catch someone napping infml to find, or take advantage of, someone when they are unprepared or not doing their duty
nap³ n [C usually sing.] the soft furry surface on some cloth and leather, made by brushing the short fine threads or hairs in one direction ➔ compare PILE³
na-palm /'neıpə:lıl-pa:m, -pɔ:ləm/ n [U] a jelly made from petrol, which burns fiercely and is used in bombs
nape /neıp/ n [C usually sing.] the back (of the neck)
naph-tha /'næfɵə/ n [U] any of various liquid HYDROCARBONS used for starting fires, removing spots of dirt from clothes etc
nap-kin /'næpkın/ n 1 a usually square piece of cloth or paper used for protecting one's clothes and for cleaning one's hands and lips during a meal 2 BrE fml a baby's NAPPY
'napkin, ring n a small ring in which a napkin is rolled and kept for the use of one particular person
Na-ples /'neıplz/ 1 the main city in southern Italy, an important industrial centre, and a major port. It is a popular place for tourists to visit because of its beautiful scenery, which includes the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. People from Naples are called 'Neapolitans'. 2 see Naples and die
Na-po-le-on /nə'pəuliən/, Napoleon Bo-na-parte /nə,pəuliən 'bəunəpa:tııl-pa:t/ (1769-1821) the EMPEROR of France from 1804 to 1815. He was a great and very skilful military leader and his armies took control of many Euro- pean countries, which then became part of his EMPIRE. His biggest failure was in 1812, when he unsuccessfully attacked Russia, and most of the men in his army died from cold and hunger on the way back to France. In 1815 he was finally defeated (DEFEAT) at the Battle of WATERLOO and was forced to spend the rest of his life on the island of St Helena. Napoleon also changed the way that France was organized, and established a new system of laws, called the 'Napoleonic Code', on which modern French law is based. He is often shown in pictures wearing military uniform, with one hand placed across his chest and inside his coat. ➔ see also JOSEPHINE
Na-po-le-on-ic Wars, the /nə,pəulionık 'wɔ:zıl-liə:nık 'wɔ:rz/ a series of wars from 1799-1815, fought between France when it was ruled by Napoleon, and several other European countries, including Britain. They ended when Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of WATERLOO.
nap-py /'næpi/ BrE || diaper AmE — n a piece of soft cloth or paper worn between the legs and fastened around the waist of a baby to hold its EXCRETA (=liquid and solid waste)
'nappy rash BrE || diaper rash AmE — n [U] soreness of the skin between a baby's legs caused by the contents of its nappy
Nap-ster /'næpstə/ an Internet service which allows you to DOWNLOAD songs for a small amount of money. Napster was begun in 1999 by nineteen-year-old Shawn Fanning as a free Internet website, but record companies said that it broke COPYRIGHT laws, and it had to stop in 2001. It started again legally in 2003.
narc /nɑ:k||nɑ:rk/ n AmE for NARK
nar-cis-sis-m /'nɑ:sısızəm||'nɑ:r-/ n [U] too great a love for one's own abilities or physical appearance —sist n —sistic /nɑ:s'sıstık « ||-nər-/ adj
nar-cis-sus /nɑ:'sısəs||nɑ:r-/ n pl -suses or -si /-saɪ/ a white or yellow spring flower, such as the DAFFODIL
Narcissus in GREEK MYTHOLOGY, a beautiful young man who fell in love with his own REFLECTION when he saw his face in a pool of water. Because he became very unhappy as a result, he gradually became so weak that he died. A flower grew up in the place where he died, which was called NARCISSUS after him. ➔ see also NARCISSISM
nar-cot-ic¹ /nə:'kɒtık||nɑ:r'kɑ:-/ n [often pl.] a drug which in small amounts causes sleep or takes away pain, and in large amounts is harmful and habit-forming: He was sent to prison on a narcotics charge. (=an offence concerning selling or using these drugs)
narcotic² adj 1 taking away pain or especially causing sleep: a narcotic drink 2 [A no comp.] of or related to drugs: narcotic addiction
nark¹ || also narc AmE /nɑ:k||nɑ:rk/ n slang a person who mixes with criminals and secretly reports on them to the police; a STOOLPIGEON
nark² v [T usually pass.] BrE slang to annoy; make angry: I was rather narked at/by what she said.
narky /'nɑ:kıl'nɑ:r-/ adj BrE slang bad-tempered
Nar-ni-a /'nɑ:niə||'nɑ:r-/ an imaginary land of magic people and animals visited by four children in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and other children's stories written by C. S. LEWIS
nar-rate /nə'reıt||'næreıt, næ'reıt, nə-/ v [T] fml to tell (a story); describe (an event or events) in order
nar-ra-tion /nə'reıʃən||næ-, nə-/ n [C, U] fml (the telling of) a story
nar-ra-tive /'nærətıv/ n 1 [C U] rather fml that which is nar- rated; account of events: a narrative of their exciting journey | Narrative makes up most of the book. 2 [U] the art of narrating: The writer had great skill in narrative. —narrative adj: a narrative poem
nar-ra-tor /nə'reıtə ||'nærer, næ'reitə, nə-/ n 1 a person in some books, televsion shows, plays etc who tells the story or explains what is happening 2 fml a person who tells a story; STORYTELLER
nar-row¹ /'nærəu/ adj 1 small from one side to the other, especially in comparison with length or with what is usual; not wide: a narrow road/river | a gateway too narrow for a car to get through ➔ compare BROAD¹ 2 limited in range or effect: narrow ideas about religion | The decision was taken for narrow economic reasons, without considering its social effects. ➔ see also NARROW-MINDED 3 almost not enough or only just successful: to win by a narrow | a narrow escape ➔ compare CLOSE² 4 fml careful and thorough; PAINS- TAKING: a narrow examination of the facts ➔ see also NAR- ROWLY, NARROWS, STRAIGHT AND NARROW and THIN¹ (USAGE) —ness n [U]
narrow² v 1 [I,T] to make or become narrower: The river narrows at this point. | new tax laws that will narrow the gap between rich and poor 2 [T(DOWN)] to limit the range of; RESTRICT: The police have now narrowed down their list of suspects. ➔ compare WIDEN
'narrow boat n BrE a long narrow boat for use on CANALS narrow boat
'narrow gauge n a size of railway track of less than standard width, the most famous British examples of which are in Wales, e.g. the Tal-y-Lyn and Ffestiniog Railways ➔ see also GAUGE¹
nar-row-ly /'nærəuli/ adv 1 only just; hardly: We narrowly missed hitting the other car. 2 fml in a thorough and usually doubting way: The teacher questioned the boy narrowly about why he was late.
narrow-minded ad, derog showing unwillingness to accept or understand new or different ideas, customs etc; PREJU- DICED ➔ oppposite BROADMINDED; compare SMALL-MINDED —ness n [U]