note

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈnəʊt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/noʊt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(nōt)

Inflections of 'note' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
notes
v 3rd person singular
noting
v pres p
noted
v past
noted
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
note /noʊt/USA pronunciation   n., v., not•ed, not•ing. 
n. [countable]
  1. a brief written record of something to help someone remember something for future reference:She took notes in her English class.
  2. a brief written or printed statement giving information:I left you a note on the refrigerator door.
  3. a short letter:a note of apology.
  4. a reference or comment added to a passage of writing, to give one's source, more information, etc.;
    a footnote.
  5. an expression of a quality, emotion, etc., that is part of the surroundings;
    a hint:a note of fear in his voice.
  6. Music and Dance
    • a tone of a certain pitch, or a sign or character used to represent it in a piece of music.
  7. a sound of musical quality:the beautiful notes of the nightingale.
  8. Businessa certificate, as of a government or a bank, accepted as money;
    a bill:a bundle of fifty-dollar notes.

v. 
  1. to write or mark down briefly;
    make a record or note of so as to remember later: [+ object]He noted the professor's comments in the margins.[+ down + object]Note down this name.
  2. to make particular or special mention of (something): [+ object]noted the heroic efforts of her staff.[+ that clause]noted that her staff had done a fine job.
  3. to take notice of;
    perceive: [+ object]We noted his reluctance to testify.[+ that clause]She noted that some people left early.
Idioms
  1. compare notes (on), to share information about:They compared notes on the experience.
  2. of note, having fame or importance:writers of note.
  3. take note (of), to notice: [no object]The sign warned trespassers to take note.[take note of + object]He failed to take note of the warning lights.

See -nota-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
note  (nōt),USA pronunciation n., v., not•ed, not•ing. 
n. 
  1. a brief record of something written down to assist the memory or for future reference.
  2. notes, a record or outline of a speech, statement, testimony, etc., or of one's impressions of something.
  3. an explanatory or critical comment, or a reference to some authority quoted, appended to a passage in a book or the like:a note on the origin of the phrase.
  4. a brief written or printed statement giving particulars or information.
  5. Library Scienceadditional information about a work, such as its special series or some other significant identification, included on the library catalog entry.
  6. a short, informal letter:a thank-you note.
  7. a formal diplomatic or official communication in writing:a note delivered by the ambassador.
  8. Businessa paper acknowledging a debt and promising payment;
    promissory note.
  9. Businessa certificate, as of a government or a bank, accepted as money.
  10. eminence, distinction, or reputation:a man of note.
  11. importance or consequence:few events of particular note.
  12. notice, observation, or heed:to take note of warning signs; to be worthy of note.
  13. a characteristic or distinguishing feature:a note of whimsy in the design of the house.
  14. a mark, quality, or indication of something, esp. as a submerged but ubiquitous element:There was just a note of bitterness in his films.
  15. a characteristic way of speaking or thinking:His critics had begun to change their note.
  16. a signal, announcement, or intimation:a note of warning in her voice.
  17. Music and Dance
    • a sign or character used to represent a tone, its position and form indicating the pitch and duration of the tone.
    • a key, as of a piano.
  18. Music and Dancea tone sounded on a musical instrument.
  19. Music and Dancea musical sound or tone.
  20. Music and Dancea melody, tune, or song.
  21. a sound of musical quality, as one uttered by a bird:attentive to the thrush's note.
  22. any call, cry, or sound of a bird, fowl, etc.
  23. a new or unexpected element in a situation.
  24. a mark or sign, as of punctuation, used in writing or printing.
  25. Idioms compare notes, to exchange views, ideas, or impressions:The returning tourists were sitting on the sun deck comparing notes.

v.t. 
  1. to write or mark down briefly;
    make a memorandum of:to note the places of interest.
  2. to make particular mention of in a writing:She noted their extra efforts in her report.
  3. to annotate.
  4. to observe carefully;
    give attention or heed to:Note the fine brushwork in this painting.
  5. to take notice of;
    perceive:We noted his concern at the announcement.
  6. Music and Danceto set down in or furnish with musical notes.
  7. to indicate or designate;
    signify;
    denote.
  • Latin notāre, derivative of the noun, nominal
  • Old French noter to mark
  • Medieval Latin nota sign for musical tone, Latin: mark, sign, lettering; (verb, verbal) Middle English noten
  • Old French)
  • (noun, nominal) Middle English (1175–1225
noter, n. 
    1. memorandum, minute. 3. commentary, annotation. See remark. 9. bill. 10. repute, celebrity, fame, renown, name. 26. register, record. 30. see, spot, remark. 32. mention.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
note /nəʊt/ n
  1. a brief summary or record in writing, esp a jotting for future reference
  2. a brief letter, usually of an informal nature
  3. a formal written communication, esp from one government to another
  4. a short written statement giving any kind of information
  5. a critical comment, explanatory statement, or reference in the text of a book, often preceded by a number
  6. short for banknote
  7. a characteristic element or atmosphere: a note of sarcasm
  8. a distinctive vocal sound, as of a species of bird or animal
  9. any of a series of graphic signs representing a musical sound whose pitch is indicated by position on the stave and whose duration is indicated by the sign's shape
  10. Also called (esp US and Canadian): tone a musical sound of definite fundamental frequency or pitch
  11. a key on a piano, organ, etc
  12. a sound, as from a musical instrument, used as a signal or warning: the note to retreat was sounded
  13. short for promissory note
  14. archaic or poetic a tune or melody
  15. of note
    • distinguished or famous
    • worth noticing or paying attention to; important: nothing of note
  16. strike the right noteto behave appropriately
  17. strike a false noteto behave inappropriately
  18. take note ⇒ (often followed by of) to observe carefully; pay close attention (to)
vb (transitive; may take a clause as object)
  1. to notice; perceive
  2. to pay close attention to; observe: they noted every movement
  3. to make a written note or memorandum of: she noted the date in her diary
  4. to make particular mention of; remark upon: I note that you do not wear shoes
  5. to write down (music, a melody, etc) in notes
  6. to take (an unpaid or dishonoured bill of exchange) to a notary public to re-present the bill and if it is still unaccepted or unpaid to note the circumstances in a register See protest
  7. a less common word for annotate
Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin nota sign, indicationˈnoteless adj
'note' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [short, brief, concise, curt, rude] note, noted down the [dates, number, information], a [warning, thank-you, farewell, personal, suicide] note, more...

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