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7 dictionary results for: Nothing

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

noth·ing

[nuhth-ing] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	no thing; not anything; naught: to say nothing.

2.	no part, share, or trace (usually fol. by of): The house showed nothing of its former magnificence.

3.	something that is nonexistent.

4.	nonexistence; nothingness: The sound faded to nothing.

5.	something or someone of no importance or significance: Money is nothing when you're without health.

6.	a trivial action, matter, circumstance, thing, or remark: to exchange a few nothings when being introduced.

7.	a person of little or no importance; a nobody.

8.	something that is without quantity or magnitude.

9.	a cipher or naught: Nothing from nine leaves nine.

10.	(used in conventional responses to expressions of thanks): Think nothing of it. It's nothing. Nothing to it.

–adverb

11.	in no respect or degree; not at all: It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.

–adjective

12.	amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like: She was stuck in a nothing job.

—Idioms

13.

for nothing,

a.	free of charge.

b.	for no apparent reason or motive.

c.	futilely; to no avail: They had gone to a great deal of expense for nothing.

14.	in nothing flat, in very little time: Dinner was finished in nothing flat.

15.

make nothing of,

a.	to treat lightly; regard as easy.

b.	to be unsuccessful in comprehending: He could make nothing of the complicated directions.

16.	nothing but, nothing other than; only: We could see nothing but fog.

17.

nothing doing,

a.	Informal. emphatically no; certainly not.

b.	no activity, inducement, advantage, etc., present to the eye: We drove through the town but there seemed to be nothing doing.

18.	nothing less than or short of, absolutely; completely: She was used to nothing less than the best.

19.

think nothing of,

a.	to treat casually.

b.	to regard as insignificant: He thinks nothing of lying to conceal his incompetence.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE nānthing, nathing; see no², thing¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

noth·ing (nŭth'ĭng) Pronunciation Key
pron.

No thing; not anything: The box contained nothing. I've heard nothing about it.
No part; no portion: Nothing remains of the old house but the cellar hole.
One of no consequence, significance, or interest: The new nonsmoking policy is nothing to me.

Something that has no existence.
Something that has no quantitative value; zero: a score of two to nothing.
One that has no substance or importance; a nonentity: "A nothing is a dreadful thing to hold onto" (Edna O'Brien).

adj. Insignificant or worthless: "the utterly nothing role of a wealthy suitor" (Bosley Crowther).

adv. In no way or degree; not at all: She looks nothing like her sister.

[Middle English, from Old English nāthing : nā, no; see no² + thing, thing; see thing.]

Usage Note: According to the traditional rule, nothing is invariably treated as a singular, even when followed by an exception phrase containing a plural noun: Nothing except your fears stands (not stand) in your way. Nothing but roses meets (not meet) the eye. See Usage Note at none.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
nothing

O.E. naþing, from nan "not one" (see none) + þing "thing." Nothingness "non-existence" first recorded c.1631.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

nothing
adverb
1.	in no respect; to no degree; "he looks nothing like his father"
noun
1.	a quantity of no importance; "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it"

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nothing

Noth"ing\, n. [From no, a. + thing.]

1. Not anything; no thing (in the widest sense of the word thing); -- opposed to anything and something.

Yet had his aspect nothing of severe. --Dryden.

2. Nonexistence; nonentity; absence of being; nihility; nothingness. --Shak.

3. A thing of no account, value, or note; something irrelevant and impertinent; something of comparative unimportance; utter insignificance; a trifle.

Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought. --Is. xli. 24.

'T is nothing, says the fool; but, says the friend, This nothing, sir, will bring you to your end. --Dryden.

4. (Arith.) A cipher; naught.

Nothing but, only; no more than. --Chaucer.

To make nothing of. (a) To make no difficulty of; to consider as trifling or important. "We are industrious to preserve our bodies from slavery, but we make nothing of suffering our souls to be slaves to our lusts." --Ray. (b) Not to understand; as, I could make nothing of what he said.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nothing

Noth"ing\, adv. In no degree; not at all; in no wise.

Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed. --Milton.

The influence of reason in producing our passions is nothing near so extensive as is commonly believed. --Burke.

Nothing off (Naut.), an order to the steersman to keep the vessel close to the wind.

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