note

[ noht ]
See synonyms for: notenotednotesnoting on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a brief record of something written down to assist the memory or for future reference.

  2. notes, a record or outline of a speech, statement, testimony, etc., or of one's impressions of something.

  1. an explanatory or critical comment, or a reference to some authority quoted, appended to a passage in a book or the like: a note on the origin of the phrase.

  2. a brief written or printed statement giving particulars or information.

  3. Library Science. additional information about a work, such as its special series or some other significant identification, included on the library catalog entry.

  4. a short, informal letter: a thank-you note.

  5. a formal diplomatic or official communication in writing: a note delivered by the ambassador.

  6. a paper acknowledging a debt and promising payment; promissory note.

  7. a certificate, as of a government or a bank, accepted as money.

  8. eminence, distinction, or reputation: a man of note.

  9. importance or consequence: few events of particular note.

  10. notice, observation, or heed: to take note of warning signs; to be worthy of note.

  11. a characteristic or distinguishing feature: a note of whimsy in the design of the house.

  12. a mark, quality, or indication of something, especially as a submerged but ubiquitous element: There was just a note of bitterness in his films.

  13. a characteristic way of speaking or thinking: His critics had begun to change their note.

  14. a signal, announcement, or intimation: a note of warning in her voice.

  15. Music.

    • a sign or character used to represent a tone, its position and form indicating the pitch and duration of the tone.

    • a key, as of a piano.

  16. a tone sounded on a musical instrument.

  17. a musical sound or tone.

  18. a melody, tune, or song.

  19. a sound of musical quality, as one uttered by a bird: attentive to the thrush's note.

  20. any call, cry, or sound of a bird, fowl, etc.

  21. a new or unexpected element in a situation.

  22. a mark or sign, as of punctuation, used in writing or printing.

verb (used with object),not·ed, not·ing.
  1. to write or mark down briefly; make a memorandum of: to note the places of interest.

  2. to make particular mention of in a writing: She noted their extra efforts in her report.

  1. to observe carefully; give attention or heed to: Note the fine brushwork in this painting.

  2. to take notice of; perceive: We noted his concern at the announcement.

  3. to set down in or furnish with musical notes.

  4. to indicate or designate; signify; denote.

Idioms about note

  1. compare notes, to exchange views, ideas, or impressions: The returning tourists were sitting on the sun deck comparing notes.

Origin of note

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; (for the noun) Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin nota “sign for musical tone,” in Latin: “mark, sign, lettering”; verb derivative of the noun

synonym study For note

3. See remark.

Other words for note

Other words from note

  • noter, noun
  • pre·note, noun, verb (used with object), pre·not·ed, pre·not·ing.
  • subnote, noun
  • un·der·note, noun
  • un·not·ing, adjective

Words Nearby note

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use note in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for note

note

/ (nəʊt) /


noun
  1. a brief summary or record in writing, esp a jotting for future reference

  2. a brief letter, usually of an informal nature

  1. a formal written communication, esp from one government to another

  2. a short written statement giving any kind of information

  3. a critical comment, explanatory statement, or reference in the text of a book, often preceded by a number

  4. short for banknote

  5. a characteristic element or atmosphere: a note of sarcasm

  6. a distinctive vocal sound, as of a species of bird or animal: the note of the nightingale

  7. any of a series of graphic signs representing a musical sound whose pitch is indicated by position on the stave and whose duration is indicated by the sign's shape

  8. Also called (esp US and Canadian): tone a musical sound of definite fundamental frequency or pitch

  9. a key on a piano, organ, etc

  10. a sound, as from a musical instrument, used as a signal or warning: the note to retreat was sounded

  11. short for promissory note

  12. archaic, or poetic a tune or melody

  13. of note

    • distinguished or famous: an athlete of note

    • worth noticing or paying attention to; important: nothing of note

  14. strike the right note to behave appropriately

  15. strike a false note to behave inappropriately

  16. take note (often foll by of) to observe carefully; pay close attention (to)

verb(tr; may take a clause as object)
  1. to notice; perceive: he noted that there was a man in the shadows

  2. to pay close attention to; observe: they noted every movement

  1. to make a written note or memorandum of: she noted the date in her diary

  2. to make particular mention of; remark upon: I note that you do not wear shoes

  3. to write down (music, a melody, etc) in notes

  4. to take (an unpaid or dishonoured bill of exchange) to a notary public to re-present the bill and if it is still unaccepted or unpaid to note the circumstances in a register: See protest (def. 12)

  5. a less common word for annotate

Origin of note

1
C13: via Old French from Latin nota sign, indication

Derived forms of note

  • noteless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with note

note

see bread and butter letter (note); compare notes; make a note of; of note; strike the right note; take note; take notes.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.