I. ˈnō adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nā, from ne not + ā always; akin to Old Norse & Old High German ne not, Latin ne-, Greek nē- — more at aye
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. chiefly Scottish : not
b. — used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility
shall we go out to dinner or no
2. : in no respect or degree — used in comparisons
you're no better than the rest of us
3. : not so — used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal
no , I'm not going
4. — used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement
in no uncertain terms
5. — used as a function word to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a more emphatic, explicit, or comprehensive statement
it's big, no , it's gigantic
6. — used as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or incredulity
7. — used in combination with a verb to form a compound adjective
no -bake pie
8. : in negation
shook his head no
II. adjective
Date: 12th century
1.
a. : not any
no parking
no disputing the decision
b. : hardly any : very little
finished in no time
2. : not a : quite other than a
he's no expert
3. — used in combination with a noun to form a compound adjective
a no -nonsense realist
III. ˈnō noun
( plural noes or nos ˈnōz)
Date: 1588
1. : an act or instance of refusing or denying by the use of the word no : denial
received a firm no in reply
2.
a. : a negative vote or decision
b. plural : persons voting in the negative
IV. abbreviation
1. north; northern
2.
[Latin numero, ablative of numerus ]
number