note

noun

A symbol or annotation.

A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.

A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence.

A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.

A written or printed communication or commitment.

A brief piece of writing intended to assist the memory; a memorandum; a minute.

A short informal letter; a billet.

(academic) An academic treatise (often without regard to length); a treatment; a discussion paper; (loosely) any contribution to an academic discourse.

A diplomatic missive or written communication.

(finance) A written or printed paper (or digital equivalent) acknowledging a debt, and promising payment.

A piece of paper or polymer money; a banknote.

(extension) A small size of paper used for writing letters or notes.

(music) A sound.

A character, variously formed, to indicate the length of a tone, and variously placed upon the staff to indicate its pitch.

A musical sound; a tone; an utterance; a tune; a beat of a drum.

(by extension) A key of the piano or organ.

(by extension) A call or song of a bird.

(rhythm games) An indication which players have to click, type, hit, tap or do other actions if it appears

(uncountable) Observation; notice; heed.

(uncountable) Reputation; distinction.

A critical comment.

(informal) The St. Louis Blues hockey team.

(uncountable, UK dialectal, Northern England, Ireland, Scotland) That which is needed or necessary; business; duty; work.

(UK dialectal, Northern England, Ireland, Scotland) The giving of milk by a cow or sow; the period following calving or farrowing during which a cow or sow is at her most useful (i.e. gives milk); the milk given by a cow or sow during such a period.

(obsolete) A list of items or of charges; an account.

(obsolete) Notification; information; intelligence.

(obsolete) Mark of disgrace.

verb

(transitive) To notice with care; to observe; to remark; to heed.

(transitive) To record in writing; to make a memorandum of.

(transitive) To denote; to designate.

(transitive) To annotate.

(transitive) To set down in musical characters.

(transitive, law) To record on the back of (a bill, draft, etc.) a refusal of acceptance, as the ground of a protest, which is done officially by a notary.

Roots

notanot- · Latin · mark, note

Words related to note

notelet headnote endnote notatev caveatn jottedn notepapern subtonicn caveator superscribev notational parentheticaln handwrittenadj portamento submediantn addendumn writeup annotatev jottern

Synonyms & related words for note

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of note — including notice, notation, annotation, remark, mention, jotting. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to note

Explore words related to note — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include notelet, headnote, endnote, notate, caveat, jotted, notepaper, subtonic. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for note

Common synonyms for note include notice, notation, annotation, remark, mention, jotting, memo, footnote — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does note come from?

The word note breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root not-, from Latin nota (“mark, note”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.