N

(46 words)

naive

adjective mainly disapproving

too willing to believe that someone is telling the truth, that people’s intentions in general are good, or that life is simple and fair. People are often naive because they are young and/or have not had much experience of life:

naked

adjective

[ before noun ] A naked feeling or quality is not hidden, although it is bad:

namely

adverb

used when you want to give more detail or be more exact about something you have just said:

nap

noun

[ C ] a short sleep, especially during the day:

narrow

verb

[ I or T ] to become less wide or to make something less wide:

narrow-minded

adjective disapproving

not willing to accept ideas or ways of behaving that are different from your own:

natural

adjective

A natural ability or characteristic is one that you were born with:

naturally

adverb

happening or existing as part of nature and not made or done by people:

come naturally (to sb)

If a particular skill comes naturally (to you), you are able to do it easily, with little effort or learning:

nature

noun

[ S or U ] the type or main characteristic of something:

anywhere near

informal

close in time, quality, distance, or amount:

not nearly as/so

a lot less:

neatly

adverb

in a tidy way:

necessity

noun

[ U ] the need for something:

[ C ] something that you need, especially in order to live:

needless to say

as you would expect; added to, or used to introduce, a remark giving information that is expected and not surprising:

neglect

verb [ T ]

to not give enough care or attention to people or things that are your responsibility:

noun [ U ]

a situation in which you do not give enough care or attention to someone or something, or the state of not receiving enough care or attention:

negotiate

verb

[ I or T ] to have formal discussions with someone in order to reach an agreement with them:

negotiation

noun [ C or U ]

the process of discussing something with someone in order to reach an agreement with them, or the discussions themselves:

nervousness

noun [ U ]

There is growing nervousness about the possibility of a war.

neutral

adjective

NO OPINION

not saying or doing anything that would encourage or help any of the groups involved in an argument or war:

NOT NOTICEABLE

having features or characteristics that are not easily noticed:

never-ending

adjective

Something that is never-ending never ends or seems as if it will never end:

be good/bad news

to be someone or something that will affect a person or situation well/badly:

newsletter

noun [ C ]

a printed or electronic document containing information about the recent activities of an organization, sent regularly to the organization’s members:

the next best thing

the thing that is best, if you cannot have or do the thing you really want:

noble

adjective

MORAL

moral in an honest, brave, and kind way:

HIGH RANK

belonging to a high social rank in a society, especially by birth:

nominate

verb [ T ]

to officially suggest someone for an election, job, position, or honour:

to say officially that a film, song, programme, etc. will be included in a competition for a prize:

nomination

noun [ C or U ]

the act of officially suggesting someone or something for a job, position, or prize:

nonetheless/nevertheless

despite what has just been said or done:

non-existent

adjective

Something that is non-existent does not exist or is not present in a particular place:

norm

noun [ C usually plural ]

an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that most people agree with:

the norm

a situation or type of behaviour that is expected and considered to be typical:

notable

adjective

important and deserving attention, because of being very good or interesting:

notably

adverb

especially or most importantly:

note

noun

[ S ] an emotion or a way of expressing something:

make/take a note

to write something down or remember it carefully:

at short notice

uk us on short notice

only a short time before something happens:

noticeable

adjective

easy to see or recognize:

notify

verb [ T ]

to tell someone officially about something:

notion

noun [ C or U ]

a belief or idea:

notorious

adjective

famous for something bad:

notwithstanding

preposition, adverb formal

despite the fact or thing mentioned:

number

verb

[ T ] to give something a number in a series and usually to write this number on it:

numerous

adjective

many:

nutrition

noun [ U ]

the substances that you take into your body as food and the way that they influence your health:

nutritional/nutritive

adjective

relating to nutrition:

nutritious

adjective

containing many of the substances needed for life and growth: