/ ˌʌnˈnəʊn; NAmE -ˈnoʊn/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
unknown (to sb) not known or identified :
a species of insect previously unknown to science
He was trying, for some unknown reason , to count the stars.
The man's identity remains unknown.
2.
( of people ) not famous or well known :
an unknown actor
The author is virtually unknown outside Poland.
3.
never happening or existing :
The disease is as yet unknown in Europe (= there have been no cases there) .
It was not unknown for people to have to wait several hours (= it happened sometimes) .
•
IDIOMS
- an unknown quantity
- unknown to sb
■ noun
1.
the unknown [ sing. ] places or things that are not known about :
a journey into the unknown
a fear of the unknown
2.
[ C ] a person who is not well known :
A young unknown played the leading role.
3.
[ C ] a fact or an influence that is not known :
There are so many unknowns in the proposal.
4.
[ C ] ( mathematics ) a quantity that does not have a known value :
X and Y in the equation are both unknowns.