/ nəʊt; NAmE noʊt/ noun , verb
■ noun
TO REMIND YOU
1.
[ C ] a short piece of writing to help you remember sth :
Please make a note of the dates.
She made a mental note (= decided that she must remember) to ask Alan about it.
SHORT LETTER
2.
[ C ] a short informal letter :
Just a quick note to say thank you for a wonderful evening.
She left a note for Ben on the kitchen table.
a suicide note
IN BOOK
3.
[ C ] a short comment on a word or passage in a book :
a new edition of 'Hamlet', with explanatory notes
See note 3, page 259.
—see also footnote
INFORMATION
4.
notes [ pl. ] information that you write down when sb is speaking, or when you are reading a book, etc. :
He sat taking notes of everything that was said.
Can I borrow your lecture notes ?
Patients' medical notes have gone missing.
5.
[ C , usually pl. ] information about a performance, an actor's career, a piece of music, etc. printed in a special book or on a CD case, record cover, etc. :
The sleeve notes include a short biography of the performers on this recording.
MONEY
6.
(also bank·note ) (both especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually bill ) [ C ] a piece of paper money :
a £5 note
We only exchange notes and traveller's cheques.
IN MUSIC
7.
[ C ] a single sound of a particular length and pitch (= how high or low a sound is), made by the voice or a musical instrument; the written or printed sign for a musical note :
He played the first few notes of the tune.
high / low notes
QUALITY
8.
[ sing. ] note (of sth) a particular quality in sth, for example in sb's voice or the atmosphere at an event
SYN air :
There was a note of amusement in his voice.
On a more serious note (= speaking more seriously) ...
On a slightly different note (= changing the subject slightly) , let's talk about ...
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
9.
[ C ] an official document with a particular purpose :
a sick note from your doctor
The buyer has to sign a delivery note as proof of receipt.
—see also credit note , promissory note
10.
[ C ] ( technical ) an official letter from the representative of one government to another :
an exchange of diplomatic notes
•
IDIOMS
- of note
- hit / strike the right / wrong note
- sound / strike a note (of sth)
- take note (of sth)
—more at compare verb
■ verb (rather formal )
1.
to notice or pay careful attention to sth :
[ vn ]
Note the fine early Baroque altar inside the chapel.
[ v ( that )]
Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday.
[ v wh- ]
Note how these animals sometimes walk with their tails up in the air.
[ vn that ]
It should be noted that dissertations submitted late will not be accepted.
➡ note at notice
2.
to mention sth because it is important or interesting :
[ v that ]
It is worth noting that the most successful companies had the lowest prices.
[also vn , also v wh- , vn that ] ➡ note at comment
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- note sth down
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in sense 6 of the noun and both verb senses): from Old French note (noun), noter (verb), from Latin nota a mark, notare to mark.