959
-n't
nour·ish·ment /'nʌrɪʃmənt||'nɜ:rɪʃ-, 'nʌ-/ n [U] especially fml
something that nourishes; food: The child took no nourish-
ment all day. | Plants get nourishment from the soil.
nous /naʊs||nu:s/ n [U] BrE infml practical good judgment;
COMMON SENSE
nou·veau riche /,nu:vəu 'ri:ʃ/ also new rich, new
money AmE — n pl. nouveaux riches (same pronunciation)
[usually pl.] usually derog a person or people having only recently
become rich and tending to spend a lot of money in order to
prove one's wealth, especially in a way that is thought of as
lacking in good TASTE —nouveau riche adj
nou·velle cui·sine /,nu:vel kwɪ:'zi:n/ n [U] a style of
French cooking that became fashionable in the 1980s, which
pays a lot of attention to the appearance of the food, and
avoids the strong thick SAUCES of traditional French cooking
CULTURAL NOTE People often joke that nouvelle cuisine is
attractive to look at, but that there is only a very small
amount of it on the plate and it is often very expensive.
Nov. written abbrev. for NOVEMBER
no·va /'nəʊvə/ n pl. -vas or -vae /-vi:/ a star which explodes
and suddenly becomes much brighter, and then gradually
fainter → compare SUPERNOVA
No·vak, Kim /'nəʊvæk, kɪm/ (1933-) a US actress, whose
BLONDE hair and good looks made her a SEX SYMBOL in the
1950s. Her films include Picnic (1955), Pal Joey (1958), and
Vertigo (1958). → see photo on page A33
No·va Sco·tia /,nəʊvə 'skəʊʃə/ a PROVINCE of southeast
Canada on the Atlantic Ocean, whose capital city is Halifax.
It consists mainly of farmland and forests, and it also
produces minerals.
nov·el¹ /'nɒvəl||'nɑ:-/ n a long written story, not in poetry,
dealing with invented people and events: 'War and Peace',
the great novel by Leo Tolstoy
novel² adj often apprec not like anything known before; new
and perhaps clever; original: a novel idea/suggestion
nov·el·ette /,nɒvə'let||,nɑ:-/ n often derog a short, not very
serious novel, usually about love
nov·el·ist /'nɒvəlɪst||'nɑ:-/ n a writer of novels: a great
novelist | a romantic novelist
no·vel·la /nəʊ'velə/ n pl. novellas or novelle /nəʊ'veli:/ a
story between the length of a novel and a SHORT STORY
nov·el·ty /'nɒvəlti||'nɑ:-/ n 1 [U] the quality of being NOVEL;
interesting newness: the novelty of his ideas | At first I enjoyed
all the parties, but the novelty soon wore off. 2 [C] some-
thing new, unusual, and interesting: It was quite a novelty to
spend my holidays working on a boat. 3 [C usually pl.] an
unusual small cheap object, usually not very useful but
suitable to be given as a present: a novelty pen | Christmas
novelties
No·vem·ber /nəʊ'vembəʳ, nə-/ written abbrev. Nov. n [C, U]
the 11th month of the year, between October and Decem-
ber: in November This office opened in November 1991. |
last/next November He started work here last November. | on
November 6th etc It happened on November 6th. | on (the)
6th November BrE Mom is due to arrive on Friday 6th
November. | November 6 AmE There will be no classes Novem-
ber 6.
CULTURAL NOTE In the UK and northern US, when people
think of November, they think of colder weather and the
days becoming shorter. In the UK, November 5th is Guy
Fawkes' Night, and in the US the fourth Thursday in the
month is Thanksgiving.
nov·ice /'nɒvɪs 'nɑ:-/ n 1 [at ] a person with no experience
in a skill or subject; beginner: a novice swimmer | a novice at
skiing 2 a person who has recently joined a religious group
to become a MONK or NUN
no·vi·ti·ate, -ciate /nəʊ'vɪʃiət, nə-, -ʃieɪt||-'vɪʃət/ n tech
the period of being a novice, especially in a religious group
no·vo·caine /'nəʊvəkeɪn/ trademark a type of drug used for
stopping pain during a small operation, especially on the
teeth
now¹ /naʊ/ adv 1 a) at this time; at present: I had a
headache this morning, but I'm all right now. | We used to live
in Bristol but now we live in London. | A journey that used to
take several weeks can now be made in a few hours. b) at the
time just mentioned, e.g. in a story or an account of past
events: He opened the door. Now the noise was very loud. 2 at
the time just following the present; at once: We've finished
our dinner so now let's have some coffee. | Now for (=now we
will have) the next question. | They'll be here any time
now. 3 a) (used to introduce a statement or question):
Now, I don't know if you'll agree with this, but I'd like to
make a suggestion. b) (used to add force to a command,
warning etc): Now then, what's going on here? | Be careful,
now. | Now, now, stop crying! → compare THERE³ 4 (used
after an expression of time) calculating from or up to the
present: It hasn't been working properly for three weeks now. |
It's now 27 years/It's 27 years now since he died. 5 (every)
now and then/now and again at times; sometimes: She
meets her old boyfriend for a drink now and then. | I like to
visit art galleries now and again. 6 now ... now ... some-
times ... and sometimes ...: The market is very unstable, with
prices now rising, now falling.
now² n [U] the present time or moment: Now is the time to tell
him the truth. | The time for action is now. | Up to/Until now
we've had no problems. | He should have finished by now. | As
of now/From now on (=starting now) the bank will close at
3.30 pm. | Goodbye for now.
now³ also 'now that conj because (something has happened):
Now (that) John's arrived, we can begin.
NOW /,en əʊ 'dʌbəlju:/ abbrev. for the National Organization
for Women; a large US organization started in 1966, which
works for legal, economic, and social equality between
women and men. Its first president was Betty FRIEDAN, who
also helped to start it.
now·a·days /'naʊədeɪz/ adv (especially in comparisons with
the past) at the present time; in these modern times: We used
to listen to the radio a lot, but nowadays we mostly watch
television.
,no 'way adv, interj slang no; certainly not: 'Did you agree to work
at the weekend?' 'No way!' | No way will we be finished by 5
o'clock.
no·where /'nəʊweəʳ/ adv 1 also no place AmE infml — not
anywhere; (in, at, or to) no place: The book was nowhere to
be found. | The poor old man has nowhere to live. | There's
nowhere else (=no other place) I really want to go to. | (fml)
Nowhere are the effects of these policies more evident than in
the inner cities. | (fig.) That kind of talk will get you nowhere.
(=won't do you any good) | Five dollars goes nowhere now.
(=will hardly buy anything) | (fig.) In the last few seconds of the
race, Ovett came from nowhere (=from a seemingly hopeless
position) and won. 2 nowhere near not at all near or
nearly: She's nowhere near as clever as her sister. | We're
nowhere near finding a cure yet. → see SOMETHING (USAGE)
no-'win situ,ation n a state of affairs which will end badly
whichever choice one makes
no·wise /'nəʊwaɪz/ adv lit old use not at all
nowt /naʊt/ pron BrE infml nothing – used especially in the
North of England: I've had nowt to eat since yesterday.
nox·ious /'nɒkʃəs||'nɑ:k-/ adj fml or tech harmful; poisonous:
noxious fumes | noxious chemicals in the river water —ly adv
—ness n [U]
noz·zle /'nɒzəl||'nɑ:-/ n a short tube fitted to the end of a
HOSEPIPE etc to direct and control the stream of liquid or gas
pouring out: Point the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the
flames.
NPR /,en pi: 'ɑ:r/ abbrev. for NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
NRA /,en ɑ:r 'eɪ/ abbrev. for NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION
NRC /,en ɑ: 'si:||-ɑ:r-/ abbrev. for NUCLEAR REGULATORY COM-
MISSION
NSB /,en es 'bi:/ abbrev. for NATIONAL SAVINGS BANK
NSC /,en es 'si:/ abbrev. for NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
NSPCC, the /,en es ,pi: si: 'si:/ abbrev. for the National
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; a British
CHARITY organization whose aim is to protect children who
are being badly treated or are in danger of being harmed
NSU /,en es 'ju:/ n [U] abbrev. for non-specific urethritis; an
infection of the URETHRA in men, that is passed on through
having sex → compare GONORRHEA
-n't /-nt/ short for not: hadn't | didn't | wouldn't | isn't → see
NOT (USAGE)