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nonsense

 - 6 dictionary results

non⋅sense

  [non-sens, -suhns]
Use nonsense in a Sentence
–noun
1. words or language having little or no sense or meaning.
2. conduct, action, etc., that is senseless, foolish, or absurd: to have tolerated enough nonsense.
3. impudent, insubordinate, or otherwise objectionable behavior: He doesn't have to take that nonsense from you.
4. something absurd or fatuous: the utter nonsense of such a suggestion.
5. anything of trifling importance or of little or no use.
6. Genetics. a DNA sequence that does not code for an amino acid and is not transcribed (distinguished from sense ).
Origin:
1605–15; non- + sense

Related forms:
non⋅sen⋅si⋅cal  [non-sen-si-kuhl] , adjective
non⋅sen⋅si⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
non⋅sen⋅si⋅cal⋅ness, non⋅sen⋅si⋅cal⋅i⋅ty, noun

Synonyms:
1. twaddle, balderdash, moonshine, absurdity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nonsense
non·sense   (nŏn'sěns', -səns)   
n.  

  1. Words or signs having no intelligible meaning: a message that was nonsense until decoded.

  2. Subject matter, behavior, or language that is foolish or absurd.

  3. Extravagant foolishness or frivolity: a clown's exuberant nonsense.

  4. Matter of little or no importance or usefulness: a chatty letter full of gossip and nonsense.

  5. Insolent talk or behavior; impudence: wouldn't take any nonsense from the children.

adj.  Genetics Of or relating to a mutation in a structural gene that changes a nucleotide triplet into a stop codon, thus prematurely terminating the polypeptide chain during protein synthesis.
interj.  Used to express disagreement or exasperation.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nonsense 
1614, from non- + sense.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1non·sense
Pronunciation: 'nän-"sen(t)s, 'nän(t)-s&n(t)s
Function: noun
: genetic information consisting of oneor more codons that do not code for any amino acid and usually cause termination of the molecular chain in protein synthesis —compare ANTISENSE, MISSENSE

Main Entry: 2nonsense
Function: adjective
: consisting of one or more codons that are genetic nonsense <nonsense mutations>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

nonsense

see stuff and nonsense.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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