note

plural notes

1. A symbol or annotation.
   1. countableuncountableA mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.

      What a note of youth, of imagination, of impulsive eagerness, there was through it all !

      1888, Mary Augusta Ward, Robert Elsmere, volume I, London: Macmillan and Co., page 217

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      As therefore they that are of the Myſticall Body of Chriſt, haue thoſe inward Graces and Vertues, whereby they differ from all others which are not of the ſame Body ; againe, whoſoeuer appertaine to the Viſible Body of the Church, they haue alſo the notes of externall Profeſſion, whereby the World knoweth what they are.

      1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, London: William Stansbye, published 1622, book III, page 89

      She [the Anglican church] has the Note of possession, the Note of freedom from party-titles ; the Note of life, a tough life and a vigorous ; she has ancient descent, unbroken continuance, agreement in doctrine with the ancient Church.

      1841, John Henry Newman, A Letter to the Right Reverend Father in God, Richard, Lord Bishop of Oxford, on Occasion of No. 90, in the Series Called The Tracts for the Times, Oxford: John Henry Parker, page 39

      For the first ten years of nationalisation a further note of overall gloom was added by the depressing policy of unimaginative Regional colour schemes, indifferently applied.

      1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 251

      The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.

      1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   2. countableuncountableA mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence.
   3. countableuncountableA brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.
2. A written or printed communication or commitment.
   1. countableuncountableA brief piece of writing intended to assist the memory; a memorandum; a minute.

      I left him a note to remind him to take out the trash.

   2. countableuncountableA short informal letter; a billet.

      Garson: Drop me a note sometime. I'd love to hear how we're doing.

      2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Ark Hyperion

   3. countableliteraryuncountableAn academic treatise (often without regard to length); a treatment; a discussion paper; (loosely) any contribution to an academic discourse.
   4. countableuncountableA diplomatic missive or written communication.
   5. countableuncountablebusinessA written or printed paper (or digital equivalent) acknowledging a debt, and promising payment.

      a note of hand

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      Near-synonyms: draft, bond, paper, commercial paper, IOU, letter of credit

      a promissory note

      a negotiable note

      The car he drives / I pay the note every month

      1974, Shirley Brown, “Woman to Woman”, in Woman to Woman

      Synonyms: draft, bond, paper, commercial paper, IOU, letter of credit

   6. countableobsoleteuncountableA list of items or of charges; an account.

      Heere is now the Smithes note, for Shooing, / And Plough-Irons.

      c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   7. countableuncountableA piece of paper or polymer money; a banknote.

      I didn't have any coins to pay with, so I used a note.

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      Seven months ago Prime Minister Ante Marković, a Croat, attacked Yugoslavia's 2,600 percent inflation rate by making the dinar convertible to Western currencies and lopping off four zeroes. The million-dinar note shrank to a hundred dinars.

      1990 August, Kenneth C. Danforth, “Yugoslavia: A House Much Divided”, in National Geographic, volume 178, number 2, page 110

      Synonyms: bill

   8. countableuncountableextensionA small size of paper used for writing letters or notes.
3. A sound.
   1. countableuncountableentertainmentA character, variously formed, to indicate the length of a tone, and variously placed upon the staff to indicate its pitch.
   2. countableuncountableentertainmentA musical sound; a tone; an utterance; a tune; a beat of a drum.

      As they turned into Hertford Street they startled a robin from the poet's head on a barren fountain, and he fled away with a cameo note.

      1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./4/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days

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      Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move / Harmonious numbers ; as the wakeful Bird / Sings darkling, and in ſhadieſt Covert hid / Tunes her nocturnal Note.

      1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 37–40

      Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.

      1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 47

      "That's Fred," said Mrs Fitzwilliam as the iron gate beyond the little plot of beaten earth that had once been a garden gave its individual note.

      1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC

   3. broadlycountableuncountableentertainmentA key of the piano or organ.
   4. broadlycountableuncountableentertainmentA call or song of a bird.

      We heard the peculiar note of the woodcock, which resembles the repeated croaking of the frog, followed by a sharp hissing sound, somewhat like the noisy chirping of the wagtail[.]

      1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 85

   5. countableuncountablerhythm gamesentertainmentAn indicator to which the player must correctly time some input.
4. countableuncountableperfumeryAn element of a scent, fragrance, or perfume, especially as a descriptor or category.

   Isoamyl acetate (banana): This familiar scent is known to most noses as the primary odor note in bananas and pears.

   1987 October, Avery N. Gilbert and Charles J. Wysocki, “Results of the Smell Survey”, in National Geographic, volume 172, number 4, page 216

5. uncountableObservation; notice; heed.

   Go in Nerriſſa, / Giue order to my ſeruants, that they take / No note at all of our being abſent hence, / Nor you Lorenzo, Ieſſica nor you.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

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   So it is true, that ſmall matters win great commendation, becauſe they are continually in uſe, and in note ; whereas the occaſion of any great virtue cometh but on feſtivals.

   1625, Francis Bacon, “Of ceremonies and reſpects”, in The Works of Francis Bacon, volume III, London: J. and J. Knapton et al., published 1730, page 373

   Synonyms: attention

6. uncountableReputation; distinction.

   a poet of note

7. countableuncountableA critical comment.

   Your performance was fantastic! I have just one note: you were a little flat in bars 35 and 36.

8. countableobsoleteuncountableNotification; information; intelligence.
9. countableobsoleteuncountableMark of disgrace.

   That my poſteritie ſham’d with the note / Shall curſe my bones, and hold it for no ſinne, / To wiſh that I their father had not beene.

   1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC

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   Once more, the more to aggrauate the note, With a foule Traitors name ſtuffe I thy throte, And wiſh (ſo pleaſe my Soueraigne) ere I moue, What my tong ſpeaks, my right drawn ſword may proue

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 2

   Synonyms: blemish, blot, brand, reproach, stain, stigma, taint

present singular third person notes · participle present noting · participle past noted · past noted

1. transitiveTo notice with care; to observe; to remark; to heed.

   If you look to the left, you can note the old cathedral.

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   Note the difference between progesterone and progrestogen: the former is simply a type of the latter.

   Note the preſumption of this Scythian ſlaue: I tel thee villaine, thoſe that lead my horſe Haue to their names tytles of dignitie, And dar’ſt thou bluntly cal me Baiazeth?

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii

2. transitiveTo record in writing; to make a memorandum of.

   We noted his speech.

3. transitiveTo denote; to designate.

   The modular multiplicative inverse of x may be noted x⁻¹.

4. transitiveTo annotate.
5. transitiveTo set down in musical characters.
6. transitivelawTo record on the back of (a bill, draft, etc.) a refusal of acceptance, as the ground of a protest, which is done officially by a notary.

   By noting the protest, notaries could date certificates when they were received, making it easier to comply with time restrictions associated with protesting.

   2020 October 28, Kimberly Budd for the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, case SJC-12769

plural notes · alternative noit · alternative noyt · alternative not

1. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandUKdialectaluncountableusuallyThat which is needed or necessary; business; duty; work.

   And have thou that for thy note !

   1838, William Marriott, “The Deluge”, in A Collection of English Miracle-Plays or Mysteries, Basel: Schweighauser & Co, page 11

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   Tha'll keep me at this noit all day... Om always at this noit.

   1897 May 27, Halifax Courier, quoted in 1903, Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary, volume IV, London: Henry Frowde, page 302

   Thou canst do thy note; that have I espied.

   1962, Arthur C. Cawley, Everyman, and Medieval Miracle Plays, page 125

2. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandUKdialectaluncountableusuallyMilk-giving by a cow or sow; (specifically) the period following calving or farrowing, during which a cow or sow is most productive and useful.

   A cow is said to be in note when she is in milk.

   1888, S. O. Addy Gloss, Words Sheffield, page 160

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   The supply of horned cattle at this fair was great, but the business done was confined to fleshy barreners of feeding qualities and superior new-calved heifers, and those at early note, with appearance of being useful; [...]

   1843, The Farmer's Magazine, page 384

   For sale, a Kerry cow, five years old, at her note in May.

   1875, Paper, Belfast

   A man who drank spring water when his one cow was near note.

   1922, P. MacGill, Lanty Hanlon, page 11

   Be at her note, be near note, come forward to her note, of a cow or sow, be near the time for calving or farrowing.

   1996, C. I. Macafee Conc., Ulster Dict. at Note

3. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandUKbroadlydialectaluncountableusuallyThe milk given by a cow or sow during such period.

1. informalThe St. Louis Blues hockey team.