A novel is a long written story about imaginary people and events.
...a novel by Herman Hesse. [+ by]
...historical novels set in the time of the Pharaohs.
Synonyms: story, tale, fiction, romance More Synonyms of novel
2. adjective
Novel things are new and different from anything that has been done, experienced, or made before.
Protesters found a novel way of demonstrating against steeply rising oil prices.
The very idea of a sixth form college was novel in 1962.
Synonyms: new, different, original, fresh More Synonyms of novel
novel in British English1
(ˈnɒvəl)
noun
1.
an extended work in prose, either fictitious or partly so, dealing with character, action, thought, etc, esp in the form of a story
2. the novel
3. (usually plural) obsolete
a short story or novella, as one of those in the Decameron of Boccaccio
Word origin
C15: from Old French novelle, from Latin novella (narrātiō) new (story); see novel2
novel in British English2
(ˈnɒvəl)
adjective
of a kind not seen before; fresh; new; original
a novel suggestion
Word origin
C15: from Latin novellus new, diminutive of novus new
novel in British English3
(ˈnɒvəl)
noun
Roman law
a new decree or an amendment to an existing statute
novel in American English
(ˈnɑvəl)
adjective
1.
new and unusual; esp., being the first of its kind
noun
2. Obsolete
novella (sense 1)
3.
a relatively long fictional prose narrative with a more or less complex plot or pattern of events, about actions, feelings, motives, etc. of a group of characters
4.
the type or form of literature represented by such narratives
with the
5. Roman
a new law or decree, specif. one made by Justinian supplementary to the Justinian code
usually used in pl.
SIMILAR WORDS: new
Derived forms
novelistic (ˌnovelˈistic)
adjective
novelistically (ˌnovelˈistically)
adverb
Word origin
ME novell < OFr novel < L novellus, dim. of novus, new; (sense 5) < LL novellae (constitutiones)
He's written a history of the romantic novel, from Pamela to the present day.
Barnard, Robert DEATH IN PURPLE PROSE (2002)
The computer wasn't even a strange or new or novel innovation.
Nicola Barker BEHINDLINGS (2002)
Adam went over to the desk where Kenny was reading a paperback science-fiction novel.
Stuart Harrison LOST SUMMER (2002)
He actually gave her some of his stories to read, and part of a novel he was working on.
John Colapinto ABOUT THE AUTHOR (2002)
Quotations
Yes - oh dear yes - the novel tells a storyE.M. ForsterAspects of the Novel
There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they areW. Somerset Maugham
novel: a short story paddedAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
If you try to nail anything down in the novel, either it kills the novel, or the novel gets up and walks away with the nailD.H. LawrencePhoenix
In other languages
novel
British English: novel /ˈnɒvl/ NOUN
A novel is a book containing a long story about imaginary people and events.
...a novel by a famous author.
American English: novel
Arabic: رِوَايَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: romance
Chinese: 小说
Croatian: roman
Czech: román
Danish: roman
Dutch: roman
European Spanish: novela
Finnish: romaani kirja
French: roman
German: Roman
Greek: μυθιστόρημα
Italian: romanzo
Japanese: 小説
Korean: 소설
Norwegian: roman
Polish: powieść
European Portuguese: romance
Romanian: roman
Russian: роман литературное произведение
Latin American Spanish: novela
Swedish: roman
Thai: นิยาย
Turkish: roman
Ukrainian: роман
Vietnamese: tiểu thuyết
British English: novel ADJECTIVE
Novel things are new and different from anything that has been done, experienced, or made before.
Protesters found a novel way of demonstrating against steeply rising oil prices.
American English: novel
Brazilian Portuguese: novo
Chinese: 新奇的
European Spanish: nuevo
French: original
German: neuartig
Italian: nuovo
Japanese: 目新しい
Korean: 새로운
European Portuguese: novo
Latin American Spanish: nuevo
Chinese translation of 'novel'
novel
(ˈnɔvl)
n(c)
小说(說) (xiǎoshuō) (部, bù)
adj
[idea, approach]新颖(穎)的 (xīnyǐng de)
(noun)
Definition
a long fictional story in book form
He had all but finished writing a first novel.
Synonyms
story
a popular love story with a happy ending
tale
a collection of poems and folk tales
fiction
She is a writer of historical fiction.
romance
Her taste in fiction was for historical romances.
narrative
He began his narrative with the day of the murder.
Quotations
Yes - oh dear yes - the novel tells a story [E.M. Forster – Aspects of the Novel]There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are [W. Somerset Maugham]novel: a short story padded [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]If you try to nail anything down in the novel, either it kills the novel, or the novel gets up and walks away with the nail [D.H. Lawrence – Phoenix]
(adjective)
Definition
fresh, new, or original
Clubs are always looking at novel ways to raise cash.
Synonyms
new
They opened a factory in India to manufacture this new invention.
different
Try to think of a menu that is interesting and different.
original
an original idea
fresh
These designers are full of fresh ideas.
unusual
rare and unusual plants
innovative
products which are cheaper and more innovative
uncommon
Certain types of flu are uncommon.
singular
a smile of singular sweetness
ground-breaking
left-field (informal)
strange
There was something strange about the flickering blue light.
rare
I think big families are extremely rare nowadays.
unfamiliar
She grew many plants that were unfamiliar to me.
Opposites
common
,
traditional
,
usual
,
ordinary
,
ancient
,
old-fashioned
,
customary
,
run-of-the-mill
,
familiar
,
habitual
Additional synonyms
in the sense of different
Definition
new or unusual
Try to think of a menu that is interesting and different.
Synonyms
unusual,
unique,
special,
strange,
rare,
extraordinary,
bizarre,
distinctive,
something else,
peculiar,
uncommon,
singular,
unconventional,
out of the ordinary,
left-field (informal),
atypical
in the sense of fiction
Definition
literary works invented by the imagination, such as novels
She is a writer of historical fiction.
Synonyms
tale,
story,
novel,
legend,
myth,
romance,
fable,
storytelling,
narration,
creative writing,
work of imagination
in the sense of fresh
Definition
most recent
These designers are full of fresh ideas.
Synonyms
new,
original,
novel,
unusual,
latest,
different,
recent,
modern,
up-to-date,
this season's,
unconventional,
unorthodox,
ground-breaking,
left-field (informal),
new-fangled,
modernistic
Synonyms of 'novel'
novel
Explore 'novel' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of innovative
products which are cheaper and more innovative
Synonyms
novel,
new,
original,
different,
fresh,
unusual,
unfamiliar,
uncommon,
inventive,
singular,
ground-breaking,
left-field (informal),
transformational,
variational
in the sense of narrative
Definition
an account of events
He began his narrative with the day of the murder.
Synonyms
story,
report,
history,
detail,
account,
statement,
tale,
chronicle,
recital
in the sense of original
Definition
fresh and unusual
an original idea
Synonyms
new,
fresh,
novel,
different,
unusual,
unknown,
unprecedented,
innovative,
unfamiliar,
unconventional,
seminal,
ground-breaking,
untried,
innovatory,
newfangled
in the sense of rare
Definition
not happening or done very often
I think big families are extremely rare nowadays.
Synonyms
uncommon,
unusual,
exceptional,
out of the ordinary,
few,
strange,
scarce,
singular,
sporadic,
sparse,
infrequent,
thin on the ground,
recherché
in the sense of romance
Definition
a story or film dealing with love, usually in an idealized way
Her taste in fiction was for historical romances.
Synonyms
story,
novel,
tale,
fantasy,
legend,
fiction,
fairy tale,
love story,
melodrama,
idyll,
tear-jerker (informal)
in the sense of singular
Definition
remarkable
a smile of singular sweetness
Synonyms
remarkable,
unique,
extraordinary,
outstanding,
exceptional,
rare,
notable,
eminent,
uncommon,
conspicuous,
prodigious,
unparalleled,
noteworthy
in the sense of strange
Definition
odd or unexpected
There was something strange about the flickering blue light.