no1
/nəʊ
/determiner
1Not any: there is no excuse no two plants are alike
1.1Used to indicate that something is quite the opposite of what is being specified: it was no easy task persuading her Toby is no fool
1.2Hardly any: you’ll be back in no time
1.3Used in notices or slogans forbidding or rejecting something specified: No Smoking signs no nukes
exclamation
1Used to give a negative response: ‘Is anything wrong?’ ‘No.’
Synonyms
no indeed, absolutely not, most certainly not, of course not, under no circumstances, by no means, not at all, negative, never, not really, no thanks;
Scottish nae
informal nope, nah, not on your life, no way
British informal no fear, not on your nelly
North American informal no siree
Scottish, Northern English, & North American informal naw
archaic nay
1.1Expressing disagreement or contradiction: ‘This is boring.’ ‘No, it’s not!’
1.2Expressing agreement with or affirmation of a negative statement: they would never cause a fuss, oh no
1.3Expressing shock or disappointment: oh no, look at this!
adverb
1 [with comparative] Not at all; to no extent: they were no more able to perform the task than I was
2Scottish Not: I’ll no be a minute
noun (plural noes)
A negative answer or decision, especially in voting: he was unable to change his automatic yes to a no...
- For, among many other things, the French and Dutch votes were also noes to the consequences of enlargement and to the prospect of further enlargements.
- If one goes to the application book, volume 1, page 23, line 30, it can be seen that it is recorded that the result of the division, this is on the second reading: ayes 14 and noes 13.
- Super-optimists suggest that, perhaps with some changes and reassurance from European leaders, the noes might be turned into yeses, like water into wine.
Phrases
no can do
the noes have it
no less
no longer
no man
no more
no place
no sooner —— than
no through road
not take no for an answer
no two ways about it
no way
no worries
or no
Origin
Old English nō, nā (adverb), from ne 'not' + ō, ā 'ever'. The determiner arose in Middle English (originally before words beginning with any consonant except h-), reduced from non, from Old English nān (see none1).
Rhymes
No2
symbol
The chemical element nobelium.
No3
/nəʊ/noun
Variant spelling of Noh.
- half-move
- half-naked
- half note
- half one (or two etc.)
- half-open
- half-pants
- half past one (or two etc.)
- half pay
- halfpenny
- halfpennyworth
- half-pie
- half-pint
- halfpipe
- half plate
- half price
- half relief
- half rest
- half-round
- half seas over
- half-sister
- half-size
- half-sized
- half-slip
- half-smile
- half sovereign