Ne -symbol

  1. neon

NE -abbr

  1. Nebraska
  2. New England
  3. no effects
  4. northeast

ne ['nā] -adj

  1. used to indicate the original, former, or legal name of a man
    • Robert Roe, ne John Doe
  2. originally or formerly called

ne- -comb form

  1. new : recent
    • Neo gene
  2. new and different period or form of
    • Neo platonism
    : in a new and different form or manner
    • Neo platonic
  3. New World
    • Neo tropical
  4. new and abnormal
    • neo plasm
  5. new chemical compound isomeric with or otherwise related to (such) a compound
    • neo stigmine

NEA -abbr

  1. National Education Association
  2. National Endowment for the Arts

Ne·an·der·thal [nē-'an-dər-,tȯl, -,thȯl; nā-'än-dər-,täl] -n, adj, adj or n

  1. a hominid ( Homo neanderthalensissyn H. sapiens neanderthalensis) known from skeletal remains in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia that lived from about 30,000 to 200,000 years ago called also Neanderthal man
  2. one who suggests a caveman in appearance, mentality, or behavior

neap ['nēp] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a neap tide
  2. neap tide

Ne·a·pol·i·tan [,nē-ə-'pä-lə-tən] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Naples, Italy

Neapolitan ice cream -n

  1. a brick of from two to four layers of ice cream of different flavors

neap tide -n

  1. a tide of minimum range occurring at the first and the third quarters of the moon

near ['nir] -adv

  1. at, within, or to a short distance or time
    • sunset was drawing near
  2. almost, nearly
    • was near dead
  3. in a close or intimate manner : closely
    • near related
  4. in a frugal manner
  5. close to
    • beaches near the city
    • seemed to be near death
  6. not far distant in time, place, or degree
    • in the near future
  7. almost happening : narrowly missed or avoided
    • a near win in the primary
    • a near midair collision
  8. nearly not happening
    • a near escape
  9. closely related or intimately associated
    • her near est and dearest friend
  10. being the closer of two
    • the near side
  11. being the left-hand one of a pair
    • the near wheel of a cart
  12. direct, short
    • the near est road
  13. stingy, closefisted
  14. closely resembling the standard or typical
    • a near desert
  15. approximating the genuine
    • near silk
  16. approach

near beer -n

  1. any of various malt liquors considered nonalcoholic because they contain less than a specified percentage of alcohol

near·by [nir-'bī, 'nir-,] -adv or adj

  1. close at hand

Ne·arc·tic [,nē-'ärk-tik, -'är-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the biogeographic subregion that includes Greenland and No. America north of tropical Mexico

near gale -n

  1. moderate gale

nearin·fra·red [,nir-,in-frə-'red, -(,)frä-] -adj

  1. of or relating to the shorter wavelengths of radiation in the infrared spectrum and esp. to those between 0.7 and 2.5 micrometers

near·ly ['nir-lē] -adv

  1. in a close manner or relationship
    • nearly related
  2. almost but not quite
    • nearly identical
    • nearly a year later
  3. to the least extent
    • not nearly as good as we expected

near miss -n

  1. a miss (as with a bomb) close enough to cause damage
  2. something that falls just short of success
  3. a near collision (as between aircraft)
  4. close call

near money -n

  1. assets (as savings accounts or government bonds) quickly and easily converted to cash

near point -n

  1. the point nearest the eye at which an object is accurately focused on the retina at full accommodation

near·shore ['nir-'shȯr, 'nir-,] -adj

  1. extending outward an indefinite but usu. short distance from shore
    • nearshore sediments

near·side [-,sīd] -adj, n

  1. left-hand

near·sight·ed [-,sī-təd] -adj, adv

  1. able to see near things more clearly than distant ones : myopic

near·sight·ed·ness ['nir-,sī-təd-nəs] -n

  1. myopia

nearul·tra·vi·o·let [,nir-,əl-trə-'vī-(ə-)lət] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the longest wavelengths of radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum esp. between 300 and 400 nanometers

neat ['nēt] -n

  1. the common domestic bovine ( Bos taurus)
  2. free from dirt and disorder : habitually clean and orderly
  3. free from admixture or dilution : straight
    • neat brandy
    • neat cement
  4. free from irregularity : smooth
    • neat silk
  5. marked by tasteful simplicity
    • a neat outfit
  6. precise, systematic
  7. marked by skill or ingenuity : adroit
  8. net
    • neat profit
  9. fine, admirable
  10. in a neat manner
    • his hair combed back neat -- J. M. Cain
  11. without admixture or dilution : straight

neat·en ['nē-tᵊn] -vt

  1. to set in order : make neat
  2. to finish (as a piece of sewing) carefully

neath ['nēth] -prep

  1. beneath

neat·herd ['nēt-,hərd] -n

  1. herdsman

neat·nik ['nēt-nik] -n

  1. a person who is compulsively neat

neat'sfoot oil ['nēts-,fu̇t-] -n

  1. a pale yellow fatty oil made esp. from the bones of cattle and used chiefly as a leather dressing

neb ['neb] -n

  1. the beak of a bird or tortoise : bill
  2. a person's mouth
  3. nose , snout
  4. nib, tip

Neb -abbr

  1. Nebraska

NEB -abbr

  1. New English Bible

neb·bish ['ne-bish] -n, adj

  1. a timid, meek, or ineffectual person

ne·ben·kern ['nā-bən-,kərn, -,kern] -n

  1. a 2-stranded helical structure of the proximal tail region of a spermatozoon that is derived from mitochondria

neb·u·la ['ne-byə-lə] -n, adj

  1. any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space
  2. galaxy
  3. a galaxy other than the Milky Way galaxy not used technically

nebular hypothesis -n

  1. a hypothesis in astronomy: the solar system has evolved from a hot gaseous nebula

neb·u·lize ['ne-byə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to reduce to a fine spray

neb·u·los·i·ty [,ne-byə-'lä-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being nebulous
  2. nebulous matter
  3. nebula

neb·u·lous ['ne-byə-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a nebula : nebular
  2. indistinct, vague

nec·es·sar·i·ly [,ne-sə-'ser-ə-lē] -adv

  1. of necessity : unavoidably
  2. as a logical result or consequence

nec·es·sary ['ne-sə-,ser-ē] -adj

  1. of an inevitable nature : inescapable
  2. logically unavoidable
  3. that cannot be denied without contradiction
  4. determined or produced by the previous condition of things
  5. compulsory
  6. absolutely needed : required

necessary -n

  1. an indispensable item : essential

necessary condition -n

  1. a state of affairs that must prevail if another is to occur : prerequisite
  2. a proposition whose falsity assures the falsity of another

ne·ces·si·tar·i·an·ism [ni-,se-sə-'ter-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. the theory that results follow by invariable sequence from causes

ne·ces·si·tate [ni-'se-sə-,tāt] -vt, n

  1. to make necessary : require
  2. force, compel

ne·ces·si·tous [ni-'se-sə-təs] -adj, adv, n

  1. needy, impoverished
  2. urgent, pressing
  3. necessary

ne·ces·si·ty [ni-'se-sə-tē, -'ses-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being necessary
  2. pressure of circumstance
  3. physical or moral compulsion
  4. impossibility of a contrary order or condition
  5. the quality or state of being in need
  6. poverty
  7. something that is necessary : requirement
  8. an urgent need or desire

neck ['nek] -n

  1. the part of an animal that connects the head with the body
  2. the siphon of a bivalve mollusk (as a clam)
  3. the part of a garment that covers or is next to the neck
  4. : a relatively narrow part suggestive of a neck: as
  5. the constricted end of a bottle
  6. the slender proximal end of a fruit
  7. cervix
  8. the part of a stringed musical instrument extending from the body and supporting the fingerboard and strings
  9. a narrow stretch of land
  10. strait
  11. the part of a tooth between the crown and the root
  12. a column of solidified magma of a volcanic pipe or laccolith
  13. a narrow margin
    • won by a neck
  14. region, part
    • my neck of the woods
  15. to kiss and caress amorously
  16. to reduce in diameter
  17. to engage in amorous kissing and caressing
  18. to become constricted : narrow

neck and neck -adv or adj

  1. very close (as in a race)

necked ['nekt] -adj

  1. having a neck esp. of a specified kind often used in combination
    • long- necked

neck·er·chief ['ne-kər-chəf, -(,)chif, -,chēf] -n

  1. a kerchief for the neck

neck·ing ['ne-kiŋ] -n

  1. a narrow molding near the top of a column or pilaster
  2. the act or practice of kissing and caressing amorously

neck·lace ['ne-kləs] -n

  1. an ornament worn around the neck
  2. something likened to a necklace esp. in forming a linked series or a circular pattern
    • a necklace of islands

neck·line ['nek-,līn] -n

  1. the line of the neck opening of a garment

neckrein [-,rān] -vi

  1. to respond to the pressure of a rein on one side of the neck by turning in the opposite direction
  2. to direct (a horse) by pressures of the rein on the neck

neck·tie [-,tī] -n

  1. a narrow length of material worn about the neck and tied in front
  2. four-in-hand

neck·wear [-,wer] -n

  1. articles of clothing (as ties and scarves) worn about the neck

necr- -comb form

  1. those that are dead
    • necro philia
  2. one that is dead
    • necr opsy

ne·crol·o·gy [nə-'krä-lə-jē, ne-] -n, adj

  1. obituary
  2. a list of the recently dead

nec·ro·man·cy ['ne-krə-,man(t)-sē] -n, adj, adv

  1. conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events
  2. magic, sorcery

ne·croph·a·gous [nə-'krä-fə-gəs, ne-] -adj

  1. feeding on corpses or carrion
    • necrophagous insects

nec·ro·phil·ia [,ne-krə-'fi-lē-ə] -n, adj or n, adj

  1. obsession with and usu. erotic interest in or stimulation by corpses

ne·croph·i·lism [nə-'krä-fə-,li-zəm, ne-] -n

  1. necrophilia

ne·crop·o·lis [nə-'krä-pə-ləs, ne-] -n

  1. cemetery
  2. a large elaborate cemetery of an ancient city

nec·rop·sy ['ne-,kräp-sē] -n

  1. autopsy
  2. an autopsy performed on an animal

necropsy -vt

  1. to perform an autopsy on

ne·cro·sis [nə-'krō-səs, ne-] -n, adj

  1. usu. localized death of living tissue

nec·ro·tiz·ing ['ne-krə-,tī-ziŋ] -adj

  1. causing or undergoing necrosis
    • necrotizing infections
    • necrotizing tissue

necrotizing fasciitis -n

  1. a severe soft tissue infection by bacteria (as Group A streptococci) that is marked by edema and necrosis of subcutaneous tissues with involvement of adjacent fascia and by painful red swollen skin over affected areas

nec·tar ['nek-tər] -n, adj

  1. the drink of the Greek and Roman gods
  2. something delicious to drink
  3. a beverage of fruit juice and pulp
    • apricot nectar
  4. a sweet liquid that is secreted by the nectaries of a plant and is the chief raw material of honey

nec·tar·ine [,nek-tə-'rēn] -n

  1. a peach with a smooth-skinned fruit that is a frequent somatic mutation of the normal peach
  2. its fruit

nec·tary ['nek-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. a plant gland that secretes nectar

nee ['nā] -adj

  1. used to identify a woman by her maiden family name
  2. originally or formerly called
    • the Brewers nee Pilots who also are in their third year -- Fred Ciampa

need ['nēd] -n

  1. necessary duty : obligation
  2. a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful
  3. a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism
  4. a condition requiring supply or relief
  5. lack of the means of subsistence : poverty
  6. to be needful or necessary
  7. to be in want
  8. to be in need of : require
  9. be under necessity or obligation to
    • you need not answer
    • she need only wait

need·ful ['nēd-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. being in need
  2. necessary, requisite

needful -n

  1. something needed or requisite
  2. money

nee·dle ['nē-dᵊl] -n, adj

  1. a small slender usu. steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical sutures at one end and that is used for sewing
  2. any of various devices for carrying thread and making stitches (as in crocheting or knitting)
  3. a slender hollow instrument for introducing material into or removing material from the body (as by insertion under the skin)
  4. any of various slender hollow devices used to introduce matter (as air) into or remove it from an object (as a ball)
  5. a slender bar of magnetized steel that when allowed to turn freely (as in a compass) indicates the direction of a magnetic field (as of the earth)
  6. a slender usu. sharp-pointed indicator on a dial
  7. : a slender pointed object resembling a needle: as
  8. a pointed crystal
  9. a sharp rock
  10. obelisk
  11. a needle-shaped leaf (as of a conifer)
  12. a slender rod (as of jewel or steel) with a rounded tip used in a phonograph to transmit vibrations from a record : stylus
  13. a slender pointed rod controlling a fine inlet or outlet (as in a valve)
  14. a teasing or gibing remark

needle ['nēd-liŋ, 'nē-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb, n

  1. to sew or pierce with or as if with a needle
  2. tease, torment
  3. to incite to action by repeated gibes
    • needled the boy into a fight
  4. sew, embroider

nee·dle·fish ['nē-dᵊl-,fish] -n

  1. any of a family (Belonidae) of elongate carnivorous chiefly marine bony fishes that are silvery with blue or green backs and have long slender jaws and sharp teeth
  2. pipefish

nee·dlenose pliers ['nē-dᵊl-,nōz-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. pliers with long slender jaws used for grasping small or thin objects

nee·dle·point [-,pȯint] -n, adj

  1. lace worked with a needle over a paper pattern
  2. embroidery done on canvas usu. in simple even stitches across counted threads

need·less ['nēd-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not needed : unnecessary
    • needless waste

nee·dle·stick ['nē-dᵊl-,stik] -n

  1. an accidental puncture of the skin with an unsterilized instrument (as a syringe) called also needlestick injury

nee·dle·wom·an ['nē-dᵊl-,wu̇-mən] -n

  1. a woman who does needlework
  2. seamstress

nee·dle·work [-,wərk] -n

  1. work done with a needle
  2. work (as embroidery) other than plain sewing
  3. the occupation of one who does needlework

needn't ['nē-dᵊnt]

  1. need not

needs ['nēdz] -adv

  1. of necessity : necessarily
    • must needs be recognized

needy ['nē-dē] -adj, n

  1. being in want : poverty-stricken
    • needy families
  2. marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
    • emotionally needy

neem ['nēm] -n

  1. a large tropical Asian tree ( Azadirachta indica) of the mahogany family having a bitter bark used as a tonic and leaves and seeds that have insecticidal and antiseptic properties and yield a medicinal aromatic oil

neep ['nēp] -n

  1. turnip

ne'er ['ner] -adv

  1. never

ne'erdowell [-du̇-,wel] -n, adj

  1. an idle worthless person

ne·far·i·ous [ni-'fer-ē-əs] -adj, adv

  1. flagrantly wicked or impious : evil

neg -abbr

  1. negative
  2. negotiable

ne·gate [ni-'gāt] -vt, n

  1. to deny the existence or truth of
  2. to cause to be ineffective or invalid

ne·ga·tion [ni-'gā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the action or logical operation of negating or making negative
  2. a negative statement, judgment, or doctrine
  3. a logical proposition formed by asserting the falsity of a given proposition
  4. something that is the absence of something actual : nonentity
  5. something considered the opposite of something regarded as positive

neg·a·tive ['ne-gə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal
    • received a negative answer
  2. marked by absence, withholding, or removal of something positive
    • the negative motivation of shame -- Garrett Hardin
  3. denying a predicate of a subject or a part of a subject
    • no A is B is a negative proposition
  4. denoting the absence or the contradictory of something
    • nontoxic is a negative term
  5. expressing negation
    • negative particles such as no and not
  6. adverse, unfavorable
    • the reviews were mostly negative
  7. lacking positive qualities
  8. disagreeable
  9. marked by features of hostility, withdrawal, or pessimism that hinder or oppose constructive treatment or development
    • a negative outlook
    • negative criticism
  10. promoting a person or cause by criticizing or attacking the competition
    • ran a negative campaign
    • negative advertising
  11. less than zero and opposite in sign to a positive number that when added to the given number yields zero
    • 2 is a negative number
  12. having more outgo than income : constituting a loss
    • negative cash flow
    • negative worth
  13. extending or generated in a direction opposite to an arbitrarily chosen regular direction or position
    • negative angle
  14. being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the electron is the elementary unit
  15. having more electrons than protons
    • a negative ion
  16. having lower electric potential and constituting the part toward which the current flows from the external circuit
    • the negative pole
  17. being the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube
  18. not affirming the presence of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present
  19. having a test result indicating the absence esp. of a condition, substance, or organism
    • she is HIV negative
  20. directed or moving away from a source of stimulation
    • negative tropism
  21. less than the pressure of the atmosphere
    • negative pressure
  22. having the light and dark parts in approximately inverse relation to those of the original photographic subject
  23. diverging light rays and forming a virtual inverted image

negative -n

  1. a reply that indicates the withholding of assent : refusal
  2. a right of veto
  3. an adverse vote : veto
  4. a proposition which denies or contradicts another
  5. the one of a pair of propositions in which negation is expressed
  6. something that is the opposite or negation of something else
  7. drawback, liability
  8. an expression (as the word no) of negation or denial
  9. a negative number
  10. the side that upholds the contradictory proposition in a debate
  11. a negative photographic image on transparent material used for printing positive pictures
  12. the material that carries such an image
  13. a reverse impression taken from a piece of sculpture or ceramics
  14. a negative result (as of a test)
    • a high rate of false negative s
  15. a test yielding such a result
  16. to refuse assent to
  17. to reject by or as if by a vote
  18. to demonstrate the falsity of
  19. to deny the truth, reality, or validity of
  20. neutralize, counteract

negative feedback -n

  1. feedback that tends to dampen a process by applying the output against the initial conditions

negative income tax -n

  1. a system of federal subsidy payments to families with incomes below a stipulated level

negative transfer -n

  1. the impeding of learning or performance in a situation by learned responses carried over from another situation

neg·a·tiv·ism ['ne-gə-ti-,vi-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. an attitude of mind marked by skepticism esp. about nearly everything affirmed by others
  2. a tendency to refuse to do, to do the opposite of, or to do something at variance with what is asked

ne·glect [ni-'glekt] -vt, n

  1. to give little attention or respect to : disregard
  2. to leave undone or unattended to esp. through carelessness

neglect -n

  1. an act or instance of neglecting something
  2. the condition of being neglected

ne·glect·ful [ni-'glek(t)-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. given to neglecting : careless, heedless

neg·li·gee [,ne-glə-'zhā, 'ne-glə-,] -n

  1. a woman's long flowing usu. sheer dressing gown
  2. carelessly informal or incomplete attire

neg·li·gence ['ne-gli-jən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being negligent
  2. failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances
  3. an act or instance of being negligent

neg·li·gent [-jənt] -adj, adv

  1. marked by or given to neglect esp. habitually or culpably
  2. failing to exercise the care expected of a reasonably prudent person in like circumstances
  3. marked by a carelessly easy manner

neg·li·gi·ble ['ne-gli-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. so small or unimportant or of so little consequence as to warrant little or no attention : trifling
    • a negligible error

ne·go·tia·ble [ni-'gō-sh(ē-)ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. : capable of being negotiated: as
  2. transferable from one person to another by being delivered with or without endorsement so that the title passes to the transferee
    • negotiable securities
  3. capable of being traversed, dealt with, or accomplished
    • a difficult but negotiable road
    • negotiable demands
  4. open to discussion or dispute

ne·go·ti·ant [-'gō-sh(ē-)ənt] -n

  1. one that negotiates

ne·go·ti·ate [ni-'gō-shē-,āt, ÷-sē-] -vb, n, adj

  1. to confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter
  2. to deal with (some matter or affair that requires ability for its successful handling) : manage
  3. to arrange for or bring about through conference, discussion, and compromise
    • negotiate a treaty
  4. to transfer (as a bill of exchange) to another by delivery or endorsement
  5. to convert into cash or the equivalent value
    • negotiate a check
  6. to successfully travel along or over
    • negotiate a turn
  7. complete, accomplish
    • negotiate the trip in two hours

ne·go·ti·a·tion [ni-,gō-shē-'ā-shən, ÷-sē-] -n

  1. the action or process of negotiating or being negotiated often used in pl.

Ne·gress ['nē-grəs] -n

  1. a black woman or girl

Ne·gril·lo [ni-'gri-(,)lō, -'grē-(,)yō] -n

  1. a member of a people (as Pygmies) belonging to a group of dark-skinned peoples of small stature that live in Africa

Ne·gri·to [nə-'grē-(,)tō] -n

  1. a member of a people (as the Andamanese) belonging to a group of dark-skinned peoples of small stature that live in Oceania and the southeastern part of Asia

ne·gri·tude ['ne-grə-,tüd, 'nē-, -,tyüd] -n

  1. a consciousness of and pride in the cultural and physical aspects of the African heritage
  2. the state or condition of being black

Ne·gro ['nē-(,)grō] -n, adj, adj or n

  1. a member of a race of humankind native to Africa and classified according to physical features (as dark skin pigmentation)

ne·gro·phobe ['nē-grə-,fōb] -n

  1. one who strongly dislikes or fears black people

ne·gus ['nē-gəs, ni-'güs] -n

  1. king used as a title of the sovereign of Ethiopia
  2. a beverage of wine, hot water, sugar, lemon juice, and spices

Neh -abbr

  1. Nehemiah

NEH -abbr

  1. National Endowment for the Humanities

Ne·he·mi·ah [,nē-(h)ə-'mī-ə] -n

  1. a Jewish leader of the fifth century b.c.who supervised the rebuilding of the Jerusalem city walls and instituted religious reforms in the city
  2. a narrative and historical book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture

Ne·he·mi·as [-'mī-əs] -n

  1. nehemiah

NEI -abbr

  1. not elsewhere included

neigh ['nā] -vi, n

  1. to make the prolonged cry of a horse

neigh·bor ['nā-bər] -n

  1. one living or located near another
  2. fellow man

neighbor -adj

  1. being immediately adjoining or relatively near
  2. to adjoin immediately or lie relatively near to
  3. to live or be located as a neighbor
  4. to associate in a neighborly way

neigh·bor·hood ['nā-bər-,hu̇d] -n

  1. neighborly relationship
  2. the quality or state of being neighbors : proximity
  3. a place or region near : vicinity
  4. an approximate amount, extent, or degree
    • cost in the neighborhood of 100
  5. the people living near one another
  6. a section lived in by neighbors and usu. having distinguishing characteristics
  7. the set of all points belonging to a given set whose distances from a given point are less than a given positive number
  8. a set that contains a neighborhood

neigh·bor·ly [-lē] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of congenial neighbors
  2. friendly
    • a neighborly welcome

neigh·bour ['nā-bər] -n

(variant of neighbor)

  1. one living or located near another
  2. fellow man

nei·ther ['nē-thər also 'nī-] -conj

  1. not either
    • neither black nor white
  2. also not
    • neither did I

neither -pron

  1. not the one or the other of two or more
  2. not either
    • neither hand
  3. either
  4. similarly not : also not
    • just as the serf was not permitted to leave the land, so neither was his offspring -- G. G. Coulton

nek·ton ['nek-tən, -,tän] -n, adj

  1. free-swimming aquatic animals essentially independent of wave and current action

nel·son ['nel-sən] -n

  1. a wrestling hold marked by the application of leverage against an opponent's arm, neck, and head

nemat- -comb form

  1. thread
    • nemato cyst
  2. nematode
    • nemato logy

ne·mat·ic [ni-'ma-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the phase of a liquid crystal characterized by arrangement of the long axes of the molecules in parallel lines but not layers

nem·a·ti·cide ['ne-mə-tə-,sīd, ni-'ma-tə-] -n, adj

  1. a substance or preparation used to destroy nematodes

nem·a·to·cyst [-,sist] -n

  1. one of the stinging organelles of coelenterates used in catching prey

nem·a·tode ['ne-mə-,tōd] -n

  1. any of a phylum (Nematoda or Nemata) of elongated cylindrical worms parasitic in animals or plants or free-living in soil or water called also roundworm

nem·a·tol·o·gy [,ne-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of zoology that deals with nematodes

Nem·bu·tal ['nem-byə-,tȯl] -trademark

  1. used for the sodium salt of pentobarbital

nem con -abbr

  1. no one contradicting

ne·mer·te·an [ni-'mər-tē-ən] -n, adj or n

  1. any of a phylum (Nemertea syn. Rhynchocoela) of often vividly colored usu. long dorsoventrally flattened marine worms that typically burrow in the mud or sand along seacoasts called also ribbon worm

nem·e·sis ['ne-mə-səs] -n

  1. the Greek goddess of retributive justice
  2. one that inflicts retribution or vengeance
  3. a formidable and usu. victorious rival or opponent
  4. an act or effect of retribution
  5. bane

ne·moph·i·la [ni-'mä-fə-lə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Nemophila) of annual herbs of the waterleaf family chiefly of western No. America that are cultivated for their showy blue or white sometimes spotted flowers

ne·ne ['nā-(,)nā] -n

  1. an endangered goose ( Branta sandvicensissyn. Nesochen sandvicensis) of the Hawaiian Islands that usu. inhabits waterless uplands and feeds on berries and vegetation

neo·clas·sic [,nē-ō-'kla-sik] -adj, n, n or adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a revival or adaptation of the classical esp. in literature, music, art, or architecture

neo·co·lo·nial·ism [,nē-ō-kə-'lōn-yə-,li-zəm, -'lō-nē-ə-,li-] -n, adj, n or adj

  1. the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people

neo·con ['nē-ō-,kän] -n

  1. neoconservative

neo·con·ser·va·tive [,nē-ō-kən-'sər-və-tiv] -n, adj

  1. a former liberal espousing political conservatism
  2. a conservative who advocates the assertive promotion of democracy and U.S. national interest in international affairs including through military means

neo·cor·tex [,nē-ō-'kȯr-,teks] -n

  1. the large 6-layered dorsal region of the cerebral cortex that is unique to mammals
  2. the mammalian cerebral cortex

neo·cor·ti·cal [-'kȯr-ti-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the neocortex

neoDar·win·ian [-där-'wi-nē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to neo-Darwinism

neoDar·win·ism [-'där-wə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. a theory of evolution that is a synthesis of Darwin's theory in terms of natural selection and modern population genetics

neo·dym·i·um [,nē-ō-'di-mē-əm] -n

  1. a silver-white to yellow metallic element of the rare-earth group that is used esp. in magnets and lasers

neoEx·pres·sion·ism [-ik-'spre-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. a revival of expressionism in art characterized by intense colors, dramatic usu. figural forms, and emotive subject matter

neoFreud·ian [-'frȯi-dē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to a school of psychoanalysis that differs from Freudian orthodoxy in emphasizing the importance of social and cultural factors in the development of an individual's personality

Neo·gene ['nē-ə-,jēn] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the later portion of the Tertiary including the Miocene and Pliocene or the corresponding system of rocks

neoGoth·ic [,nē-ō-'gä-thik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a revival or adaptation of the Gothic esp. in literature or architecture

neoim·pres·sion·ism [,nē-ō-im-'pre-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. a late 19th century French art theory and practice characterized by an attempt to make impressionism more precise in form and the use of a pointillist painting technique

NeoLat·in [-'la-tᵊn] -n

  1. new latin
  2. romance

neo·lib·er·al [-'li-b(ə-)rəl] -n, adj

  1. a liberal who de-emphasizes traditional liberal doctrines in order to seek progress by more pragmatic methods

neo·lith ['nē-ə-,lith] -n

  1. a Neolithic stone implement

neo·lith·ic [,nē-ə-'li-thik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the latest period of the Stone Age characterized by polished stone implements
  2. belonging to an earlier age and now outmoded

ne·ol·o·gism [nē-'ä-lə-,ji-zəm] -n, adj

  1. a new word, usage, or expression
  2. a meaningless word coined by a psychotic

neoMal·thu·sian [,nē-ō-mal-'thü-zhən, -mȯl-, -'thyü-] -adj, n

  1. advocating control of population growth (as by contraception)

neo·my·cin [,nē-ə-'mī-sᵊn] -n

  1. a broad-spectrum highly toxic antibiotic or mixture of antibiotics produced by a streptomyces ( Streptomyces fradiae) and used medically esp. to treat local infections

ne·on ['nē-,än] -n, adj

  1. a colorless odorless mostly inert gaseous element that is found in minute amounts in air and is used in electric lamps
  2. a discharge lamp in which the gas contains a large proportion of neon
  3. a sign composed of such lamps
  4. the illumination provided by such lamps or signs

neon -adj

  1. of, relating to, or using neon
  2. extremely bright : fluorescent
    • neon yellow

neo·na·tal [,nē-ō-'nā-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or affecting the newborn and esp. the human infant during the first month after birth
    • neonatal mortality

ne·o·nate ['nē-ə-,nāt] -n

  1. a newborn child
  2. a child less than a month old

neo·na·tol·o·gy [,nē-ə-nā-'tä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a branch of medicine concerned with the care, development, and diseases of newborn infants

neoNa·zi [,nē-ō-'nät-sē, -'nat-] -n, adj

  1. a member of a group espousing the programs and policies of Hitler's Nazis

neo·or·tho·dox [,nē-ō-'ȯr-thə-,däks] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to a 20th century movement in Protestant theology characterized by a reaction against liberalism and emphasis on various scripturally based Reformation doctrines

neopa·gan [-'pā-gən] -n, adj

  1. a person who practices a contemporary form of paganism (as Wicca)

neo·phil·ia [,nē-ə-'fi-lē-ə] -n

  1. love of or enthusiasm for what is new or novel

neo·phyte ['nē-ə-,fīt] -n

  1. a new convert : proselyte
  2. novice
  3. tyro, beginner

neo·pla·sia [,nē-ə-'plā-zh(ē-)ə] -n

  1. the formation of tumors
  2. a tumorous condition

neo·plasm ['nē-ə-,pla-zəm] -n

  1. tumor

neo·plas·tic [,nē-ə-'plas-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a tumor or neoplasia
  2. of or relating to de stijl

neo·plas·ti·cism [-tə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. de stijl

Neo·pla·to·nism [,nē-ō-'plā-tə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj

  1. Platonism modified in later antiquity to accord with Aristotelian, post-Aristotelian, and eastern conceptions that conceives of the world as an emanation from an ultimate indivisible being with whom the soul is capable of being reunited in trance or ecstasy
  2. a doctrine similar to ancient Neoplatonism

neo·prene ['nē-ə-,prēn] -n

  1. a synthetic rubber made by the polymerization of chloroprene, characterized by superior resistance (as to oils), and used esp. for special-purpose clothing (as gloves and wet suits)

neo·re·al·ism [,nē-ō-'rē-ə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj

  1. a movement esp. in Italian filmmaking characterized by the simple direct depiction of lower-class life

neoscho·las·ti·cism [,nē-ō-skə-'las-tə-,si-zəm] -n, adj

  1. a movement among Catholic scholars aiming to restate medieval Scholasticism in a manner suited to present intellectual needs

neo·stig·mine [,nē-ə-'stig-,mēn] -n

  1. a cholinergic drug used in the form of its bromide C 12H 19BrN 2O 2or a methyl sulfate derivative C 13H 22N 2O 6S esp. in the diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis and in the treatment of urinary bladder or bowel atony

ne·o·te·ny [nē-'ä-tə-nē] -n, adj

  1. retention of some larval or immature characters in adulthood
  2. attainment of sexual maturity during the larval stage

ne·o·ter·ic [,nē-ə-'ter-ik] -adj

  1. recent in origin : modern

neo·trop·i·cal [,nē-ō-'trä-pi-kəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the tropical New World biogeographic region that extends south, east, and west from the central plateau of Mexico

neo·trop·ics [-'trä-piks] -n pl

  1. the neotropical region

neo·type ['nē-ə-,tīp] -n

  1. a type specimen that is selected subsequent to the description of a species to replace a preexisting type that has been lost or destroyed

NEP -abbr

  1. New Economic Policy

Ne·pali [nə-'pȯ-lē, -'pä-, -'pa-] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Nepal
  2. an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal

ne·pen·the [nə-'pen(t)-thē] -n, adj

  1. a potion used by the ancients to induce forgetfulness of pain or sorrow
  2. something capable of causing oblivion of grief or suffering

nep·e·ta ['ne-pə-tə] -n

  1. catmint

neph·e·line ['ne-fə-,lēn] -n, adj

  1. a hexagonal mineral that is a usu. glassy crystalline silicate of sodium, potassium, and aluminum common in igneous rocks

neph·e·lin·ite ['ne-fə-lə-,nīt] -n, adj

  1. a silica-deficient igneous rock having nepheline as the predominant mineral

neph·e·lom·e·ter [,ne-fə-'lä-mə-tər] -n, adj, adv

  1. an instrument for measuring the extent or degree of cloudiness
  2. an instrument for determining the concentration or particle size of suspensions by means of transmitted or reflected light

neph·ew ['ne-(,)fyü, chiefly Brit -(,)vyü] -n

  1. a son of one's brother or sister or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law
  2. an illegitimate son of an ecclesiastic
  3. a lineal descendant
  4. grandson

nephr- -comb form

  1. kidney
    • nephr ic
    • nephro logy

ne·phrec·to·my [ni-'frek-tə-mē] -n, vt

  1. the surgical removal of a kidney

neph·ric ['ne-frik] -adj

  1. renal

ne·phrid·i·um [ni-'fri-dē-əm] -n, adj

  1. a tubular glandular excretory organ characteristic of various invertebrates

neph·rite ['ne-,frīt] -n

  1. a compact tremolite or actinolite that is the commoner and less valuable kind of jade and that varies in color from white to dark green or black

ne·phrit·ic [ni-'fri-tik] -adj

  1. renal
  2. of, relating to, or affected with nephritis

ne·phri·tis [ni-'frī-təs] -n

  1. acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney caused by infection, degenerative process, or vascular disease

ne·phrol·o·gy [ni-'frä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a branch of medicine concerned with the kidneys

neph·ron ['ne-,frän] -n

  1. a single excretory unit of the vertebrate kidney

ne·phrop·a·thy [ni-'frä-pə-thē] -n, adj

  1. an abnormal state of the kidney
  2. one associated with or secondary to some other pathological process

ne·phro·sis [ni-'frō-səs] -n, adj or n

  1. a noninflammatory disease of the kidneys chiefly affecting function of the nephrons
  2. nephrotic syndrome

neph·ro·stome ['ne-frə-,stōm] -n

  1. the ciliated funnel-shaped coelomic opening of a typical nephridium

nephrotic syndrome -n

  1. an abnormal condition that is marked by deficiency of albumin in the blood and its excretion in the urine due to altered permeability of the glomerular basement membranes

neph·ro·tox·ic [,ne-frə-'täk-sik] -adj, n

  1. poisonous to the kidney
    • nephrotoxic drugs
  2. resulting from or marked by poisoning of the kidney
    • nephrotoxic effects

ne plus ul·tra [,nā-,pləs-'əl-trə, ,nē-] -n

  1. the highest point capable of being attained : acme
  2. the most profound degree of a quality or state

nep·o·tism ['ne-pə-,ti-zəm] -n, adj

  1. favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship

Nep·tune ['nep-,tün, -,tyün] -n, adj

  1. the Roman god of the sea
  2. ocean
  3. the planet eighth in order from the sun

nep·tu·ni·um [nep-'tü-nē-əm, -'tyü-] -n

  1. a radioactive metallic element that is chemically similar to uranium and is obtained in nuclear reactors esp. as a by-product in the production of plutonium

nerd ['nərd] -n, adj

  1. an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person
  2. one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits
    • computer nerd s

ne·re·id ['nir-ē-əd] -n, adj

  1. any of a family (Nereidae) of chiefly marine polychaete worms
  2. any of a genus ( Nereis) of usu. large often greenish worms

Ne·re·id ['nir-ē-əd] -n

  1. any of the sea nymphs fathered by Nereus

Ne·re·us ['nir-ē-əs] -n

  1. a sea-god in Greek mythology

ne·rit·ic [nə-'ri-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, inhabiting, or constituting the belt or region of shallow water adjoining the seacoast

ne·rol ['ner-,ȯl, 'nir-] -n

  1. a liquid alcohol C 10H 18O that has a rose scent and is used in perfumery

ner·o·li oil ['ner-ə-lē-] -n

  1. a fragrant pale yellow essential oil obtained from flowers chiefly of the sour orange and used esp. in cologne and as a flavoring

nerts ['nərts] -n pl

  1. nonsense, nuts often used interjectionally

ner·va·tion [,nər-'vā-shən] -n

  1. an arrangement or system of nerves
  2. venation

nerve ['nərv] -n

  1. sinew, tendon
    • strain every nerve
  2. any of the filamentous bands of nervous tissue that connect parts of the nervous system with the other organs, conduct nerve impulses, and are made up of axons and dendrites together with protective and supportive structures
  3. power of endurance or control : fortitude, strength
  4. assurance, boldness
  5. presumptuous audacity : gall
  6. a sore or sensitive point
    • her remark touched a nerve
  7. nervous agitation or irritability : nervousness
    • a case of nerve s
  8. vein
  9. the sensitive pulp of a tooth
  10. to give strength or courage to : supply with physical or moral force

nerve cell -n

  1. neuron
  2. cell body

nerve center -n

  1. center
  2. a source of leadership, organization, control, or energy
    • the financial nerve center of the nation

nerve cord -n

  1. the pair of closely united ventral longitudinal nerves with their segmental ganglia that is characteristic of many elongate invertebrates (as earthworms)
  2. the dorsal tubular cord of nervous tissue above the notochord of a chordate that comprises or develops into the central nervous system

nerved ['nərvd] -adj

  1. veined
    • a nerved wing
  2. having veins or nerves esp. of a specified kind or number used in combination
    • fan- nerved leaves
  3. showing courage or strength

nerve ending -n

  1. a structure forming the distal end of a nerve axon

nerve fiber -n

  1. any of the processes (as axons or dendrites) of a neuron

nerve gas -n

  1. an organophosphate chemical weapon that interferes with normal nerve transmission and induces intense bronchial spasm with resulting inhibition of respiration

nerve growth factor -n

  1. a protein that promotes development of the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems and is required for maintenance of sympathetic neurons

nerve impulse -n

  1. the progressive physicochemical change in the membrane of a nerve fiber that follows stimulation and serves to transmit a record of sensation from a receptor or an instruction to act to an effector called also nervous impulse

nerve·less ['nərv-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking strength or courage : feeble
  2. exhibiting control or balance : poised, cool

nerve net -n

  1. a network of neurons apparently continuous with one another and conducting impulses in all directions
  2. a primitive nervous system (as in a jellyfish) consisting of such a network

nerverack·ing ['nərv-,ra-kiŋ] -adj

  1. extremely trying on the nerves
    • a nerveracking ordeal

nerve trunk -n

  1. a bundle of nerve fibers enclosed in a connective tissue sheath

ner·vos·i·ty [,nər-'vä-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being nervous

ner·vous ['nər-vəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. sinewy, strong
  2. marked by strength of thought, feeling, or style : spirited
    • a vibrant tight-packed nervous style of writing
  3. of, relating to, or composed of neurons
  4. of or relating to the nerves
  5. originating in or affected by the nerves
    • nervous energy
  6. easily excited or irritated : jumpy
  7. timid, apprehensive
    • a nervous smile
    • nervous of strangers
  8. tending to produce nervousness or agitation : uneasy
    • a nervous situation
  9. appearing or acting unsteady, erratic, or irregular used of inanimate things

nervous breakdown -n

  1. an attack of mental or emotional disorder esp. when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization

nervous Nel·lie [-'ne-lē] -n

  1. a timid or worrisome person

nervous system -n

  1. the bodily system that in vertebrates is made up of the brain and spinal cord, nerves, ganglia, and parts of the receptor organs and that receives and interprets stimuli and transmits impulses to the effector organs

ner·vure ['nər-vyər] -n

  1. vein

nervy ['nər-vē] -adj, adv, n

  1. sinewy, strong
  2. showing or expressive of calm courage : bold
  3. marked by effrontery or presumption : brash
  4. excitable, nervous

NES -abbr

  1. not elsewhere specified

ne·science ['ne-sh(ē-)ən(t)s, 'nē-, -sē-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. lack of knowledge or awareness : ignorance

ness ['nes] -n

  1. cape, promontory

Nes·sel·rode ['ne-səl-,rōd] -n

  1. a mixture of candied fruits, nuts, and maraschino used in puddings, pies, and ice cream

Nes·sus ['ne-səs] -n

  1. a centaur slain by Hercules for trying to carry away Hercules' wife but avenged by means of a poisoned garment that causes Hercules to die in torment

nest ['nest] -n

  1. a bed or receptacle prepared by an animal and esp. a bird for its eggs and young
  2. a place or specially modified structure serving as an abode of animals and esp. of their immature stages
    • an ants' nest
  3. a receptacle resembling a bird's nest
  4. a place of rest, retreat, or lodging : home
    • grown children who have left the nest
  5. den, hangout
  6. the occupants or frequenters of a nest
  7. a group of similar things
    • a nest of giant mountains -- Helen MacInnes
  8. hotbed
    • a nest of rebellion
  9. a group of objects made to fit close together or one within another
  10. an emplaced group of weapons
  11. to build or occupy a nest : settle in or as if in a nest
  12. to fit compactly together or within one another : embed
  13. to form a nest for
  14. to pack compactly together
  15. to form a hierarchy, series, or sequence of with each member, element, or set contained in or containing the next
    • nest ed subroutines

nest egg -n

  1. a natural or artificial egg left in a nest esp. to induce a hen to continue to lay there
  2. a fund of money accumulated as a reserve

nest·er ['nes-tər] -n

  1. a homesteader or squatter who takes up land on open range for a farm
  2. one that nests

nes·tle ['ne-səl] -vb, n

  1. nest
  2. to settle snugly or comfortably
  3. to lie in an inconspicuous or sheltered manner
  4. to settle, shelter, or house in or as if in a nest
    • the children were nestled all snug in their beds -- Clement Moore
  5. to press closely and affectionately
    • nestle s a kitten in her arms

nest·ling ['nest-liŋ] -n

  1. a young bird that has not abandoned the nest

Nes·tor ['nes-tər, -,tȯr] -n

  1. a king of Pylos who serves in his old age as a counselor to the Greeks at Troy
  2. one who is a patriarch or leader in a field

Nes·to·ri·an [ne-'stȯr-ē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to the doctrine ascribed to Nestorius and ecclesiastically condemned in 431 that divine and human persons remained separate in the incarnate Christ
  2. of or relating to a church separating from Byzantine Christianity after 431, centering in Persia, and surviving chiefly in Asia Minor

net ['net] -n, adj

  1. an open-meshed fabric twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
  2. : something made of net: as
  3. a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
  4. a fabric barricade which divides a court in half (as in tennis or volleyball) and over which a ball or shuttlecock must be hit to be in play
  5. the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal in various games (as soccer or hockey)
  6. an entrapping device or situation
    • caught in the net of suspicious circumstances
  7. something resembling a net in reticulation (as of lines, fibers, or figures)
  8. a group of communications stations operating under unified control
  9. network
  10. internet
  11. to cover or enclose with or as if with a net
  12. to catch in or as if in a net
  13. to cover with or as if with a network
  14. to hit (a ball) into the net for the loss of a point in a racket game
  15. to hit (a ball or puck) into the goal for a score (as in hockey or soccer)
  16. to score (a point or goal) by netting a ball or puck
  17. : free from all charges or deductions: as
  18. remaining after the deduction of all charges, outlay, or loss
    • net earnings
    • net worth
  19. excluding all tare
    • net weight
  20. excluding all nonessential considerations : basic, final
    • the net result
    • net effect
  21. to receive by way of profit : clear
  22. to produce by way of profit : yield
  23. to get possession of : gain
  24. a net amount, profit, weight, or price
  25. the score of a golfer in a handicap match after deducting his or her handicap from the gross score
  26. essence, gist

Neth -abbr

  1. Netherlands

neth·er ['ne-thər] -adj

  1. situated down or below : lower
  2. situated or believed to be situated beneath the earth's surface

neth·er·most [-,mōst] -adj

  1. farthest down : lowest

neth·er·world [-,wərld] -n

  1. the world of the dead
  2. underworld
    • the netherworld of deceit...and espionage -- R. M. Nixon
  3. no-man's-land
    • that lame-duck netherworld so feared by elected officials -- Dan Barry

net·i·quette ['ne-ti-kət, -,ket] -n

  1. etiquette governing communication on the Internet

net·i·zen ['ne-tə-zən also -sən] -n

  1. an active participant in the online community of the Internet

net·mind·er ['net-,mīn-dər] -n

  1. goalkeeper

net·roots ['net-,rüts, -,ru̇ts] -n pl

  1. the grassroots political activists who communicate via the Internet esp. by blogs

net·su·ke ['nets-(,)kā, -kē, -ke also 'net-sü-] -n

  1. a small and often intricately carved toggle (as of wood or ivory) used to fasten a small container to a kimono sash

nett ['net] -n, adj

(variant of net)

  1. an open-meshed fabric twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
  2. : something made of net: as
  3. a device for catching fish, birds, or insects
  4. a fabric barricade which divides a court in half (as in tennis or volleyball) and over which a ball or shuttlecock must be hit to be in play
  5. the fabric that encloses the sides and back of the goal in various games (as soccer or hockey)
  6. an entrapping device or situation
    • caught in the net of suspicious circumstances
  7. something resembling a net in reticulation (as of lines, fibers, or figures)
  8. a group of communications stations operating under unified control
  9. network
  10. internet
  11. to cover or enclose with or as if with a net
  12. to catch in or as if in a net
  13. to cover with or as if with a network
  14. to hit (a ball) into the net for the loss of a point in a racket game
  15. to hit (a ball or puck) into the goal for a score (as in hockey or soccer)
  16. to score (a point or goal) by netting a ball or puck
  17. : free from all charges or deductions: as
  18. remaining after the deduction of all charges, outlay, or loss
    • net earnings
    • net worth
  19. excluding all tare
    • net weight
  20. excluding all nonessential considerations : basic, final
    • the net result
    • net effect
  21. to receive by way of profit : clear
  22. to produce by way of profit : yield
  23. to get possession of : gain
  24. a net amount, profit, weight, or price
  25. the score of a golfer in a handicap match after deducting his or her handicap from the gross score
  26. essence, gist

netting -n

  1. network
  2. the act or process of making a net or network
  3. the act, process, or right of fishing with a net

net·tle ['ne-tᵊl] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Urticaof the family Urticaceae, the nettle family) of chiefly coarse herbs armed with stinging hairs
  2. any of various prickly or stinging plants other than the true nettles (genus Urtica)

nettle ['net-liŋ, 'ne-tᵊl-iŋ] -vt

  1. to strike or sting with or as if with nettles
  2. to arouse to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger

nettle rash -n

  1. hives

net·tle·some ['ne-tᵊl-səm] -adj

  1. causing vexation : irritating

netveined ['net-,vānd] -adj, n

  1. having veins arranged in a fine network
    • a netveined leaf

netwinged [-,wiŋd] -adj

  1. having wings with a fine network of veins

net·work ['net-,wərk] -n

  1. a fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secured at the crossings
  2. a system of lines or channels resembling a network
  3. an interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system
    • a network of hotels
  4. a system of computers, peripherals, terminals, and databases connected by communications lines
  5. a group of radio or television stations linked by wire or radio relay
  6. a radio or television company that produces programs for broadcast over such a network
  7. a usu. informally interconnected group or association of persons (as friends or professional colleagues)

network [-,wər-kər] -vt, n

  1. to cover with or as if with a network
    • a continent...so network ed with navigable rivers and canals -- Lamp
  2. to distribute for broadcast on a television network
  3. broadcast
  4. to join (as computers) in a network
  5. to engage in networking

net·work·ing -n

  1. the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions
  2. the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business
  3. the establishment or use of a computer network

Neuf·cha·tel [,nü-shä-'tel, ,nyü-, ,nə(r)-] -n

  1. a soft unripened cheese similar to cream cheese but containing less fat and more moisture

neume ['nüm, 'nyüm] -n, adj

  1. any of various symbols used in the notation of Gregorian chant

neur- -comb form

  1. nerve
    • neur al
    • neuro logy
  2. neural : neural and
    • neuro muscular

neu·ral ['nu̇r-əl, 'nyu̇r-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or affecting a nerve or the nervous system
  2. situated in the region of or on the same side of the body as the brain and spinal cord : dorsal

neural arch -n

  1. the cartilaginous or bony arch enclosing the spinal cord on the dorsal side of a vertebra

neural crest -n

  1. the ridge of one of the folds forming the neural tube that gives rise to the spinal ganglia and various structures of the autonomic nervous system

neu·ral·gia [nu̇-'ral-jə, nyu̇-] -n, adj

  1. acute paroxysmal pain radiating along the course of one or more nerves usu. without demonstrable changes in the nerve structure

neural network -n

  1. a computer architecture in which a number of processors are interconnected in a manner suggestive of the connections between neurons in a human brain and which is able to learn by a process of trial and error called also neural net

neural plate -n

  1. a thickened plate of ectoderm along the dorsal midline of the early vertebrate embryo that gives rise to the neural tube and neural crests

neural tube -n

  1. the hollow longitudinal dorsal tube formed by infolding and subsequent fusion of the opposite ectodermal folds in the vertebrate embryo that gives rise to the brain and spinal cord

neur·amin·i·dase [,nu̇r-ə-'mi-nə-,dās, ,nyu̇r-, -,dāz] -n

  1. a hydrolytic enzyme that occurs on the surface of the pneumococcus, influenza-causing viruses, and some paramyxoviruses as an antigen and that splits mucoproteins by breaking a glucoside link

neur·as·the·nia [,nu̇r-əs-'thē-nē-ə, ,nyu̇r-] -n, adj or n, adv

  1. a psychological disorder marked esp. by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feelings of inadequacy, and psychosomatic symptoms

neu·ri·lem·ma [,nu̇r-ə-'le-mə, ,nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. the plasma membrane surrounding a Schwann cell of a myelinated nerve fiber and separating layers of myelin

neu·ri·tis [nu̇-'rī-təs, nyu̇-] -n, adj or n

  1. an inflammatory or degenerative lesion of a nerve marked esp. by pain, sensory disturbances, and impaired or lost reflexes

neu·ro·ac·tive [,nu̇r-ō-'ak-tiv, ,nyu̇r-] -adj

  1. stimulating neural tissue

neu·ro·anat·o·my [-ə-'na-tə-mē] -n, adj

  1. the anatomy of nervous tissue and the nervous system

neu·ro·bi·ol·o·gy [-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of the life sciences that deals with the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system

neu·ro·blas·to·ma [-blas-'tō-mə] -n

  1. a malignant tumor formed of embryonic ganglion cells

neu·ro·chem·is·try [-'ke-mə-strē] -n, adj or n

  1. the study of the chemical makeup and activities of nervous tissue
  2. chemical processes and phenomena related to the nervous system

neu·ro·de·gen·er·a·tive [-di-'je-nə-rə-tiv, -'jen-rə-; -'je-nə-,rā-; -dē-] -adj

  1. relating to or marked by degeneration of nervous tissue

neu·ro·en·do·crine [-'en-də-krən, -,krīn, -,krēn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a hormonal substance that influences the activity of nerves
  2. of, relating to, or functioning in neurosecretion

neu·ro·en·do·cri·nol·o·gy [-,en-də-kri-'nä-lə-jē, -(,)krī-] -n, adj

  1. a branch of the life sciences dealing with neurosecretion and the physiological interaction between the central nervous system and the endocrine system

neu·ro·fi·bril [-'fī-brəl, -'fi-] -n, adj

  1. a fine proteinaceous fibril that is found in cytoplasm (as of a neuron or a paramecium) and is capable of conducting excitation

neurofibrillary tangle -n

  1. a pathological accumulation of paired helical filaments composed of abnormally formed tau protein that is found chiefly in the cytoplasm of neurons of the brain and esp. the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and that occurs typically in Alzheimer's disease

neu·ro·fi·bro·ma [-fī-'brō-mə] -n

  1. a fibroma composed of nervous and connective tissue and produced by proliferation of Schwann cells

neu·ro·fi·bro·ma·to·sis [-(,)fī-,brō-mə-'tō-səs] -n

  1. a disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant and characterized esp. by brown spots on the skin, neurofibromas of peripheral nerves, and deformities of subcutaneous tissue and bone

neu·ro·gen·ic [,nu̇r-ə-'je-nik, ,nyu̇r-] -adj, adv

  1. forming, originating in, or controlled by nervous tissue
    • neurogenic heartbeat
  2. induced or modified by nervous factors
  3. disordered because of abnormally altered neural relations

neu·ro·glia [nu̇-'rō-glē-ə, nyu̇-, -'rä-; ,n(y)u̇r-ə-'glē-ə, -'glī-] -n, adj

  1. glia

neu·ro·hor·mon·al [,nu̇r-ō-hȯr-'mō-nᵊl, ,nyu̇r-] -adj

  1. involving both neural and hormonal mechanisms
  2. of, relating to, or being a neurohormone

neu·ro·hor·mone [-'hȯr-,mōn] -n

  1. a hormone (as acetylcholine or norepinephrine) produced by or acting on nervous tissue

neu·ro·hu·mor [-'hyü-mər, -'yü-] -n, adj

  1. neurohormone
  2. neurotransmitter

neu·ro·hy·poph·y·sis [-hī-'pä-fə-səs] -n, adj

  1. the portion of the pituitary gland that is composed of the infundibulum and posterior lobe and is concerned with the secretion of various hormones

neu·ro·im·ag·ing [,n(y)u̇r-ō-'i-mə-jiŋ] -n

  1. a clinical specialty concerned with producing images of the brain by noninvasive techniques (as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging)
  2. imaging of the brain by these techniques

neurol -abbr

  1. neurological; neurology

neu·ro·lep·tic [,nu̇r-ə-'lep-tik, ,nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. antipsychotic

neu·rol·o·gist [nu̇-'rä-lə-jist, nyu̇-] -n

  1. one specializing in neurology
  2. a physician skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of disease of the nervous system

neu·rol·o·gy [-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the scientific study of the nervous system esp. in respect to its structure, functions, and abnormalities

neu·ro·ma [nu̇-'rō-mə, nyu̇-] -n

  1. a tumor or mass growing from a nerve and usu. consisting of nerve fibers

neu·ro·mus·cu·lar [,nu̇r-ō-'məs-kyə-lər, ,nyu̇r-] -adj

  1. of or relating to nerves and muscles
  2. jointly involving or affecting nervous and muscular elements
    • a neuromuscular junction
    • a neuromuscular disease

neu·ron ['nü-,rän, 'nyü-; 'nu̇r-,än, 'nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. a grayish or reddish granular cell with specialized processes that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue

neu·rone ['nü-,rän, 'nyü-; 'nu̇r-,än, 'nyu̇r-] -n, adj

(variant of neuron)

  1. a grayish or reddish granular cell with specialized processes that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue

neu·ro·pa·thol·o·gy [,nu̇r-ō-pə-'thä-lə-jē, ,nyu̇r-, -pa-] -n, adj

  1. pathology of the nervous system

neu·rop·a·thy [nu̇-'rä-pə-thē, nyu̇-] -n, adj, adv

  1. an abnormal and usu. degenerative state of the nervous system or nerves
  2. a systemic condition that stems from a neuropathy

neu·ro·pep·tide [,nu̇r-ə-'pep-,tīd, ,nyu̇r-] -n

  1. an endogenous peptide that influences neural activity or functioning

neu·ro·phar·ma·col·o·gy [,nu̇r-ō-,fär-mə-'kä-lə-jē, ,nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. a branch of medical science dealing with the action of drugs on and in the nervous system
  2. the properties and reactions of a drug on and in the nervous system

neu·ro·phys·i·ol·o·gy [-,fi-zē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. physiology of the nervous system

neu·ro·pro·tec·tive [,nu̇r-ō-prə-'tek-tiv, nyu̇r-] -adj

  1. serving to protect neurons from injury or degeneration
    • neuroprotective drugs

neu·ro·psy·chi·a·try [-sə-'kī-ə-trē, -sī-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of medicine concerned with both neurology and psychiatry

neu·ro·psy·chol·o·gy [-sī-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a science concerned with the integration of psychological observations on behavior and the mind with neurological observations on the brain and nervous system

neu·rop·ter·an [nu̇-'räp-tə-rən, nyu̇-] -n, adj

  1. any of an order (Neuroptera) of usu. net-winged insects that include the lacewings and ant lions

neu·ro·ra·di·ol·o·gy [,nu̇r-ō-,rā-dē-'ä-lə-jē, ,nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. radiology of the nervous system

neu·ro·sci·ence [-'sī-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. a branch (as neurophysiology) of the life sciences that deals with the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology of nerves and nervous tissue and esp. with their relation to behavior and learning

neu·ro·se·cre·tion [-si-'krē-shən] -n, adj

  1. the process of producing a secretion by neurons
  2. a secretion produced by neurosecretion

neu·ro·sen·so·ry [-'sen(t)-sə-rē, -'sen(t)s-rē] -adj

  1. of or relating to afferent nerves

neu·ro·sis [nu̇-'rō-səs, nyu̇-] -n

  1. a mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of the personality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, does not result in disturbance of the use of language, and is accompanied by various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances (as visceral symptoms, anxieties, or phobias)

neu·ros·po·ra [nu̇-'räs-p(ə-)rə, nyu̇-] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Neurosporaof the family Sordariaceae) of ascomycetous fungi which are used extensively in genetic research and have black perithecia and persistent asci and some of which have salmon-pink or orange spore masses and are severe pests in bakeries

neu·ro·sur·gery [-'sər-jə-rē, -'sərj-rē] -n, adj

  1. surgery of nervous structures (as nerves, the brain, or the spinal cord)

neu·rot·ic [nu̇-'rä-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, constituting, or affected with neurosis

neurotic -n

  1. one affected with a neurosis
  2. an emotionally unstable individual

neu·rot·i·cism [nu̇-'rä-tə-,si-zəm, nyu̇-] -n

  1. a neurotic character, condition, or trait

neu·ro·tox·ic [,nu̇r-ō-'täk-sik, ,nyu̇r-] -adj, n

  1. toxic to the nerves or nervous tissue

neu·ro·tox·in [-'täk-sən] -n

  1. a poisonous complex esp. of protein that acts on the nervous system

neu·ro·trans·mis·sion [-tran(t)s-'mi-shən, -tranz-] -n

  1. the transmission of nerve impulses across a synapse

neu·ro·trans·mit·ter [-tran(t)s-'mi-tər, -tranz-] -n

  1. a substance (as norepinephrine or acetylcholine) that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse

neu·ro·trop·ic [-'trä-pik] -adj

  1. having an affinity for or localizing selectively in nerve tissue
    • the neurotropic rabies virus

neu·ru·la ['nu̇r-ə-lə, 'nyu̇r-, -yə-lə] -n

  1. an early vertebrate embryo which follows the gastrula and in which nervous tissue begins to differentiate and the basic pattern of the vertebrate begins to emerge

neus·ton ['nü-,stän, 'nyü-] -n

  1. minute organisms that float in the surface film of water

neu·ter ['nü-tər, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine
  2. neither active nor passive : intransitive
  3. taking no side : neutral
  4. lacking or having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs

neuter -n

  1. a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the neuter gender
  2. the neuter gender
  3. one that is neutral
  4. worker
  5. a spayed or castrated animal
  6. castrate, alter
  7. to remove the force or effectiveness of

neu·tral ['nü-trəl, 'nyü-] -n

  1. one that is neutral
  2. a neutral color
  3. a position of disengagement (as of gears)

neutral [-trə-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. not engaged on either side
  2. not aligned with a political or ideological grouping
    • a neutral nation
  3. of or relating to a neutral state or power
    • neutral territory
  4. not decided or pronounced as to characteristics : indifferent
  5. achromatic
  6. nearly achromatic
  7. neuter
  8. lacking stamens or pistils
  9. neither acid nor basic
  10. not electrically charged
  11. produced with the tongue in the position it has when at rest
    • the neutral vowels of -bv above

neu·tral·ise ['nü-trə-,līz, 'nyü-] -vb, n

(variant of neutralize)

  1. to make chemically neutral
  2. to counteract the activity or effect of : make ineffective
    • propaganda that is difficult to neutralize
  3. kill, destroy
  4. to make electrically inert by combining equal positive and negative quantities
  5. to invest (as a territory or a nation) with conventional or obligatory neutrality conferring inviolability during a war
  6. to make neutral by blending with the complementary color
  7. to give (as a pair of phonemes) a nondistinctive form or pronunciation
    • t and d are neutralized when pronounced as flaps
  8. to undergo neutralization

neu·tral·ism ['nü-trə-,li-zəm, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. neutrality
  2. a policy or the advocacy of neutrality esp. in international affairs

neu·tral·i·ty [nü-'tra-lə-tē, nyü-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being neutral
  2. refusal to take part in a war between other powers

neu·tral·i·za·tion [,nü-trə-lə-'zā-shən, ,nyü-] -n

  1. an act or process of neutralizing
  2. the quality or state of being neutralized

neu·tral·ize ['nü-trə-,līz, 'nyü-] -vb, n

  1. to make chemically neutral
  2. to counteract the activity or effect of : make ineffective
    • propaganda that is difficult to neutralize
  3. kill, destroy
  4. to make electrically inert by combining equal positive and negative quantities
  5. to invest (as a territory or a nation) with conventional or obligatory neutrality conferring inviolability during a war
  6. to make neutral by blending with the complementary color
  7. to give (as a pair of phonemes) a nondistinctive form or pronunciation
    • t and d are neutralized when pronounced as flaps
  8. to undergo neutralization

neutral red -n

  1. a basic dye used chiefly as a biological stain and acid-base indicator

neutral spirits -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. ethyl alcohol of 190 or higher proof used esp. for blending other alcoholic liquors

neutral zone -n

  1. the portion of an ice hockey rink between the attacking and defensive zones

neu·tri·no [nü-'trē-(,)nō, nyü-] -n, adj

  1. an uncharged elementary particle that is believed to have a very small mass, that has any of three forms, and that interacts only rarely with other particles

neu·tron ['nü-,trän, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. an uncharged elementary particle that has a mass nearly equal to that of the proton and is present in all known atomic nuclei except the hydrogen nucleus

neutron activation analysis -n

  1. an analytical method used to determine the chemical elements comprising a material by bombarding it with neutrons to produce radioactive atoms whose emissions are indicative of the elements present called also neutron activation

neutron bomb -n

  1. a nuclear bomb designed to produce lethal neutrons but less blast and fire damage than other nuclear bombs

neutron star -n

  1. a dense celestial object that consists primarily of closely packed neutrons and that results from the collapse of a much larger stellar body

neu·tro·pe·nia [,n(y)ü-trə-'pē-nē-ə] -n, adj

  1. leukopenia in which the decrease in white blood cells is chiefly in neutrophils

neu·tro·phil ['nü-trə-,fil, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. staining to the same degree with acid or basic dyes
    • neutrophil granulocytes

neutrophil -n

  1. a granulocyte that is the chief phagocytic white blood cell of the blood

Nev -abbr

  1. Nevada

ne·ve [nā-'vā] -n

  1. the partially compacted granular snow that forms the surface part of the upper end of a glacier
  2. a field of granular snow

nev·er ['ne-vər] -adv

  1. not ever : at no time
    • I never met her
  2. not in any degree : not under any condition
    • never the wiser for his experience

never mind -conj

  1. much less, let alone used esp. in negative contexts to add to one term another denoting something less likely
    • with this knee I can hardly walk, never mind run

nev·er·more [,ne-vər-'mȯr] -adv

  1. never again

nev·ernev·er land [,ne-vər-'ne-vər-] -n

  1. an ideal or imaginary place

nev·er·the·less [,ne-vər-thə-'les] -adv

  1. in spite of that : however
    • her childish but nevertheless real delight -- Richard Corbin

ne·vi·ra·pine [nə-'vir-ə-,pēn, -'vī-rə-] -n

  1. an antiretroviral drug C 15H 14N 4O that inhibits reverse transcriptase and is administered orally in combination with at least one other antiretroviral in the treatment of infection by HIV-1 and AIDS

ne·vus ['nē-vəs] -n

  1. a congenital or acquired usu. highly pigmented area on the skin that is either flat or raised : mole

new ['nü, chiefly Brit 'nyü, in place names usu (,)nu̇ oror (,)ni] -adj, n

  1. having recently come into existence : recent, modern
  2. having been seen, used, or known for a short time : novel
    • rice was a new crop for the area
  3. unfamiliar
    • visit new places
  4. being other than the former or old
    • a steady flow of new money
  5. having been in a relationship or condition but a short time
    • new to the job
    • a new wife
  6. beginning as the resumption or repetition of a previous act or thing
    • a new day
    • the new edition
  7. made or become fresh
    • awoke a new person
  8. relating to or being a new moon
  9. different from one of the same category that has existed previously
    • new realism
  10. of dissimilar origin and usu. of superior quality
    • a new strain of hybrid corn
  11. modern
  12. having been in use after medieval times
  13. newly, recently usu. used in combination

new age -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being New Age
  2. contemporary, modern
    • happy new age dads expertly diapering their always cheerful babies -- Amy Saltzman et al.
  3. an eclectic group of cultural attitudes arising in late 20th century Western society that are adapted from those of a variety of ancient and modern cultures, that emphasize beliefs (as reincarnation, holism, pantheism, and occultism) outside the mainstream, and that advance alternative approaches to spirituality, right living, and health
  4. a soft soothing form of instrumental music often used to promote relaxation

newb ['nüb] -n

  1. newbie

new·bie ['nü-bē, 'nyü-] -n

  1. newcomer
  2. a newcomer to cyberspace

new blood -n

  1. persons who are accepted into a group or organization and are expected to provide fresh ideas and vitality

new·born [-,bȯrn] -adj

  1. recently born
  2. born anew

newborn -n

  1. a newborn individual

New·burg ['nü-,bərg, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. served with a sauce made of cream, butter, sherry, and egg yolks
    • lobster Newburg
    • shrimp Newburg

New·cas·tle disease ['nü-,ka-səl-, 'nyü-; n(y)ü-'] -n

  1. a contagious often fatal virus disease of birds and esp. the domestic chicken that is caused by a paramyxovirus (species Newcastle disease virusof the genus Avulavirus) and that is marked by respiratory and nervous symptoms

new·com·er ['nü-,kə-mər, 'nyü-] -n

  1. one recently arrived
  2. beginner, rookie

New Criticism -n, adj

  1. an analytic literary criticism that is marked by concentration on the language, imagery, and emotional or intellectual tensions in literary works

New Deal [-'dē-lish] -n, adj

  1. the legislative and administrative program of President F. D. Roosevelt designed to promote economic recovery and social reform during the 1930s
  2. the period of this program

new drug -n

  1. a drug that has not been declared safe and effective by qualified experts under the conditions prescribed, recommended, or suggested in the label and that may be a new chemical formula or an established drug prescribed for use in a new way

new economics -n pl but usu sing in constr

  1. an economic concept that is a logical extension of Keynesianism and that holds that appropriate fiscal and monetary maneuvering can maintain healthy economic growth and prosperity indefinitely

new·el ['nü-əl, 'nyü-] -n

  1. an upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind
  2. a post at the foot of a straight stairway or one at a landing

New English Bible -n

  1. a translation of the Bible by a British interdenominational committee first published in its entirety in 1970

new·fan·gled ['nü-'faŋ-gəld] -adj, n

  1. attracted to novelty
  2. of the newest style or kind
    • had many newfangled gadgets in the kitchen

newfash·ioned [-'fa-shənd] -adj

  1. made in a new fashion or form
  2. up-to-date

new·found [-'fau̇nd] -adj

  1. newly found
    • a newfound friend

New·found·land ['nü-fən(d)-lənd, 'nyü-, -,land; n(y)ü-'fau̇nd-lənd] -n

  1. any of a breed of very large heavy highly intelligent black, black-and-white, brown, or gray dogs having a thick coat and prob. developed in Newfoundland

New·gate ['nü-,gāt, 'nyü-, -gət] -n

  1. a London prison razed in 1902

New Historicism -n, adj or n

  1. a method of literary criticism that emphasizes the historicity of a text by relating it to the configurations of power, society, or ideology in a given time

new·ie ['nü-ē, 'nyü-] -n

  1. something new

new jack -adj

  1. of, relating to, or consisting of new jack swing
    • new jack grooves
  2. of, relating to, or being urban, hip, and usu. black
    • the new jack generation

new jack swing -n, often cap NJS

  1. pop music usu. performed by black musicians that combines elements of jazz, funk, rap, and rhythm and blues

New Jer·sey tea [nü-'jər-zē-, nyü-] -n

  1. a low deciduous shrub ( Ceanothus americanus) of the buckthorn family that is found in the eastern U.S. and has dull green leaves and small white flowers borne in large terminal panicles

New Je·ru·sa·lem [-jə-'rü-s(ə-)ləm, -zə-ləm; -'rüz-ləm] -n

  1. the final abode of souls redeemed by Christ
  2. an ideal earthly community

New Journalism -n

  1. journalism that features the author's subjective responses to people and events and that often includes fictional techniques meant to illuminate and dramatize those responses

New Latin -n

  1. Latin as used since the end of the medieval period esp. in scientific description and classification

New Left -n

  1. a political movement originating esp. among students in the 1960s, favoring confrontational tactics, often breaking with older leftist ideologies, and concerned esp. with antiwar, antinuclear, feminist, and ecological issues

new·ly ['nü-lē, 'nyü-] -adv

  1. lately, recently
    • a newly married couple
    • newly affluent
  2. anew, afresh
    • newly painted

new·ly·wed [-,wed] -n

  1. a person recently married

new·mar·ket ['nü-,mär-kət, 'nyü-] -n

  1. a long close-fitting coat worn in the 19th century

new math -n

  1. basic mathematics taught with emphasis on abstraction and the principles of set theory called also new mathematics

new moon -n

  1. the moon's phase when it is in conjunction with the sun so that its dark side is toward the earth
  2. the thin crescent moon seen shortly after sunset for a few days after the actual occurrence of the new moon phase
  3. the first day of each Jewish month marked by a special liturgy

new potato -n

  1. a small moist tender thin-skinned potato harvested early in the growing season

New Right -n

  1. a political movement made up esp. of Protestants, opposed esp. to secular humanism, and concerned with issues esp. of church and state, patriotism, laissez-faire economics, pornography, and abortion

news ['nüz, 'nyüz] -n pl but sing in constr, adj

  1. a report of recent events
  2. previously unknown information
    • I've got news for you
  3. something having a specified influence or effect
    • the rain was good news for lawns and gardens -- Garrison Keillor
    • the virus was bad news
  4. material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast
  5. matter that is newsworthy
  6. newscast

news agency -n

  1. an organization that supplies news to subscribing newspapers, periodicals, and newscasters

news·agent ['nüz-,ā-jənt, 'nyüz-] -n

  1. newsdealer

news·boy [-,bȯi] -n

  1. one who delivers or sells newspapers

news·break [-,brāk] -n

  1. a newsworthy event

news·cast [-,kast] -n

  1. a radio or television broadcast of news

news conference -n

  1. press conference

news·deal·er [-,dē-lər] -n

  1. a dealer in newspapers, magazines, and often paperback books

news·group [-,grüp] -n

  1. an electronic bulletin board on the Internet that is devoted to a particular topic

news·hound [-,hau̇nd] -n

  1. an aggressive journalist

new·sie ['nü-zē] -n

  1. a person who works in the news industry
  2. reporter

news·let·ter [-,le-tər] -n

  1. a small publication (as a leaflet or newspaper) containing news of interest chiefly to a special group

news·mag·a·zine [-,ma-gə-,zēn, -'zēn] -n

  1. a usu. weekly magazine devoted chiefly to summarizing and analyzing news
  2. magazine

news·man [-mən, -,man] -n

  1. a person who gathers, reports, or comments on the news : reporter, correspondent

news·mon·ger [-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n

  1. a person who is active in gathering and repeating news
  2. gossip

New South -n

  1. the southern U.S. in the years since the American Civil War

news·pa·per ['nüz-,pā-pər, 'nyüz-, 'n(y)üs-] -n

  1. a paper that is printed and distributed usu. daily or weekly and that contains news, articles of opinion, features, and advertising
  2. an organization that publishes a newspaper
  3. the paper of a newspaper : newsprint

newspaper -vi

  1. to do newspaper work

news·pa·per·man [-,man] -n

  1. a person who owns or is employed by a newspaper

news·pa·per·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n

  1. a woman who owns or is employed by a newspaper

new·speak ['nü-,spēk, 'nyü-] -n

  1. propagandistic language marked by euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings

news·peo·ple ['nüz-,pē-pəl, 'nyüz-] -n pl

  1. reporters

news·per·son [-,pər-sᵊn] -n

  1. reporter

news·print [-,print] -n

  1. paper made chiefly from groundwood pulp and used mostly for newspapers

news·read·er [-,rē-dər] -n

  1. a news broadcaster

news·reel [-,rēl] -n

  1. a short movie dealing with current events

news·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n

  1. a place (as an office) where news is prepared for publication or broadcast
  2. newsstand

news·stand [-,stand] -n

  1. a place (as an outdoor stall) where newspapers and periodicals are sold

New Style -adj

  1. using or according to the Gregorian calendar

news·week·ly [-,wē-klē] -n

  1. a weekly newspaper or newsmagazine

news·wire [-,wī(-ə)r] -n

  1. wire service

news·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n

  1. a woman who is a reporter

news·wor·thy [-,wər-thē] -adj, n

  1. interesting enough to the general public to warrant reporting

news·writ·ing [-,rī-tiŋ] -n

  1. journalism

newsy ['nü-zē, 'nyü-] -adj, n

  1. containing or filled with news
    • newsy letters
  2. newsworthy

newt ['nüt, 'nyüt] -n

  1. any of various small salamanders (family Salamandridae) that are usu. semiaquatic as adults

New Testament -n

  1. the second part of the Christian Bible comprising the canonical Gospels and Epistles and also the book of Acts and book of Revelation

new·ton ['nü-tᵊn, 'nyü-] -n

  1. the unit of force in the meter-kilogram-second system equal to the force required to impart an acceleration of one meter per second per second to a mass of one kilogram

New·to·ni·an [nü-'tō-nē-ən, nyü-, -nyən] -adj

  1. of or relating to Sir Isaac Newton or his doctrines
  2. classical

new town -n

  1. an urban development comprising a small to medium-sized city with a broad range of housing and planned industrial, commercial, and recreational facilities

new variant CreutzfeldtJakob disease -n

  1. variant creutzfeldt-jakob disease abbr. nvCJD

new wave ['nü-'wāv, 'nyü-, -,wāv] -n, adj

  1. a cinematic movement that is characterized by improvisation, abstraction, and subjective symbolism and that often makes use of experimental photographic techniques
  2. a new movement in a particular field
  3. popular music less raw than punk rock and typically including unconventional melodies, exaggerated beats, and quirky lyrics
  4. dernier cri
  5. fashion that is strikingly outrageous

New World -n

  1. western hemisphere
  2. the continental landmass of No. and So. America

New Year -n

  1. the calendar year about to start or recently started
  2. new year's day
  3. the first days of a calendar year
  4. rosh hashanah

New Year's Day -n

  1. the first day of the calendar year observed as a legal holiday in many countries

New York·ese [,n(y)ü-,yȯr-'kēz] -n

  1. American English as spoken in New York City and surrounding areas

New York minute -n

  1. instant, flash

next ['nekst] -adj

  1. immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time)
  2. any other considered hypothetically
    • knew it as well as the next man
  3. nearest or adjacent to
  4. in the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding
    • next we drove home
    • the next closest school
  5. on the first occasion to come
    • when next we meet
  6. one that is next
    • from one day to the next

nextdoor ['neks(t)-'dȯr] -adj

  1. located or living in the next building, house, apartment, or room
  2. nearby, adjacent

next door -adv

  1. in or to the next building, house, apartment, or room
    • lives next door
  2. in or at an adjacent place

next friend -n

  1. a person admitted to or appointed by a court to act for the benefit of a person (as an infant) lacking full legal capacity

next of kin

  1. one or more persons in the nearest degree of relationship to another person

next to -prep

  1. immediately following or adjacent to
  2. in comparison to
    • next to you I'm wealthy
  3. very nearly : almost
    • it was next to impossible to see in the fog

nex·us ['nek-səs] -n

  1. connection, link
  2. a causal link
  3. a connected group or series
  4. center, focus

Nez Perce ['nez-'pərs, 'nes-'pers, ÷'nā-per-'sā] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon
  2. the language of the Nez Perce people