I. ˈnīt, usu -īd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English night, niht, from Old English niht, næht, neaht; akin to Middle Dutch nacht night, Old Saxon & Old High German naht, Old Norse nōtt, nātt, Gothic nahts night, Old Irish in- nocht tonight, Welsh nos night, Latin noct-, nox, Greek nykt-, nyx, Sanskrit nakt, nakti, Lithuanian naktis, Old Slavic noštĭ
1. : the part of the solar day when the sun is beneath the horizon ; especially : the time from dusk to dawn when no light of the sun is visible
had an exhausting night alone in the woods
extra pay for working at night
dine, drink, dance, or gamble by night — T.H.Fielding
— compare day
2.
a. : an evening or night taken as an occasion or point of time
saw the opera on the opening night
saw the satellite on the third night
b.
(1) : an evening set aside for a particular purpose
it was bingo night and everybody was at the movies — Theodora Keogh
(2) : an evening program
hold an amateur night
plan a ladies' night for the men's next club meeting
c. : the evening following a particular day
Christmas night
their wedding night
election night
— compare eve
3.
a. : darkness
under cover of night swooped in among the cumbersome ships of the line — Frank Yerby
b. : a condition or period felt to resemble the darkness of night ; specifically : a period of dreary inactivity or affliction : mental or moral darkness
the glories of Roman civilization were lost in a gloomy night of ignorance, superstition, and barbarism — R.A.Hall b.1911
c. : the beginning of darkness : nightfall
rainbow at night , sailors' delight
waited until it was night
4.
a. : the period between sunset or the evening meal and bedtime
went bowling every night
Thursday evening is their maid's night out
b. : the period between nightfall or 6 p.m. and midnight
the night of May 1
c. : the period between bedtime and morning usually spent in bed
slept quietly all night
d. : a time for sexual intercourse
e. : a period of gainful employment coming during or chiefly during the night
began his night at eleven and got off at seven
paid the lecturer $500 a night
5. archaic : tonight — used with the
6. : a night's rest
the patient had a good night
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English nighten, from night, n.
: to remain during the night : to spend the night
III. adjective
Etymology: night (I)
1. : of, relating to, or associated characteristically with the night
night poetry
night air
2. : intended for use at night
a night lamp
the night bell
3. : existing, occurring, or carried out during the night
the night view of the city
night noises
night baseball
4.
a.
(1) : working at night
a night nurse
the night clerk
(2) : of or relating to work done at night
posted the night hours
b. : operating at night
the night train
5. : active or effective at night
a night fly