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nothing

 - 4 dictionary results

noth·ing

   [nuhth-ing]
–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/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.
Use nothing in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE nānthing, nathing; see no2, thing1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Word Origin & History

nothing
O.E. naþing, from nan "not one" (see none) + þing "thing." Nothingness "non-existence" first recorded c.1631.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
noth·ing   (nŭth'ĭng)   
pron.  

  1. No thing; not anything: The box contained nothing. I've heard nothing about it.

  2. No part; no portion: Nothing remains of the old house but the cellar hole.

  3. One of no consequence, significance, or interest: The new nonsmoking policy is nothing to me.

n.  

  1. Something that has no existence.

  2. Something that has no quantitative value; zero: a score of two to nothing.

  3. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

nothing

In addition to the idioms beginning with nothing, also see come to nothing; count for (nothing); go for nothing; have nothing on; have nothing to do with; here goes (nothing); in no time (nothing flat); leave a lot (nothing) to be desired; make nothing of; make something of (nothing); much ado about nothing; not know beans (from nothing); not to mention (say nothing of); stop at nothing; sweet nothings; think nothing of; want for nothing.

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