nob /nɒ b/ (nobs ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you refer to a group of people as the nobs , you mean they are rich or come from a much higher social class than you do. [BRIT , INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …the nobs who live in the Big House.
no -ba ll (no-balls ) N‑COUNT In cricket, a no-ball is a ball that is bowled in a way that is not allowed by the rules. It results in an extra run being given to the side that is batting. □ In the nine matches, they bowled 48 wides and 29 no-balls.
nob|ble /nɒ b ə l/ (nobbles , nobbling , nobbled )
1 VERB If someone nobbles an important group of people such as a committee, they offer them money or threaten them in order to make them do something. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n] The trial was stopped before Christmas after allegations of attempts to nobble the jury.
2 VERB If someone nobbles a racehorse, they deliberately harm it, often using drugs, in order to prevent it from winning a race. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n] …the substance used to nobble two horses at Doncaster.
3 VERB If someone nobbles your plans or chances of succeeding, they prevent you from achieving what you want. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] His opportunity to re-establish himself had been nobbled by the manager's tactics.
Nobel Prize /noʊbe l pra I z/ (Nobel Prizes ) N‑COUNT A Nobel Prize is one of a set of prizes that are awarded each year to people who have done important work in science, literature, or economics, or for world peace. □ [+ for ] …the Nobel Prize for literature.
no|bil|ity /noʊb I l I ti/
1 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The nobility of a society are all the people who have titles and belong to a high social class. □ They married into the nobility and entered the highest ranks of state administration.
2 N‑UNCOUNT A person's nobility is their noble character and behaviour. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …his nobility of character, and his devotion to his country.
no|ble /noʊ b ə l/ (nobles , nobler , noblest )
1 ADJ If you say that someone is a noble person, you admire and respect them because they are unselfish and morally good. [APPROVAL ] □ He was an upright and noble man who was always willing to help in any way he could. □ I wanted so much to believe he was pure and noble. ● no|bly ADV [ADV with v] □ Eric's sister had nobly volunteered to help with the gardening.
2 ADJ If you say that something is a noble idea, goal, or action, you admire it because it is based on high moral principles. [APPROVAL ] □ He had implicit faith in the noble intentions of the Emperor. □ We'll always justify our actions with noble sounding theories.
3 ADJ If you describe something as noble , you think that its appearance or quality is very impressive, making it superior to other things of its type. □ …the great parks with their noble trees.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Noble means belonging to a high social class and having a title. □ Although he was of noble birth, he lived as a poor man.
noble|man /noʊ b ə lmən/ (noblemen ) N‑COUNT In former times, a nobleman was a man who was a member of the nobility. □ It had once been the home of a wealthy nobleman.
no|blesse oblige /noʊble s əbliː ʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT Noblesse oblige is the idea that people with advantages, for example those of a high social class, should help and do things for other people. [FORMAL ] □ They did so without hope of further profit and out of a sense of noblesse oblige.
noble|woman /noʊ b ə lwʊmən/ (noblewomen ) N‑COUNT In former times, a noblewoman was a woman who was a member of the nobility.
no|body ◆◆◇ /noʊ bɒdi/ (nobodies )
1 PRON Nobody means not a single person, or not a single member of a particular group or set. □ They were shut away in a little room where nobody could overhear. □ Nobody realizes how bad things are. □ Nobody else in the neighbourhood can help.
2 N‑COUNT If someone says that a person is a nobody , they are saying in an unkind way that the person is not at all important. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ A man in my position has nothing to fear from a nobody like you.
no-brainer /noʊ bre I nə r / (no-brainers )
1 N‑COUNT If you describe a question or decision as a no-brainer , you mean that it is a very easy one to answer or make. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ It should be illegal to drink and drive. That's a no-brainer.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe a person or action as a no-brainer , you mean that they are stupid. [AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
no clai ms also no-claims ADJ [ADJ n] A no claims discount or bonus is a reduction in the money that you have to pay for an insurance policy, which you get when you have not made any claims in the previous year. □ Motorists could lose their no-claims discount, even if they are not at fault in an accident.
no -co nfidence
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n of N , N n] If members of an organization pass a vote or motion of no-confidence in someone, they take a vote which shows that they no longer support that person or their ideas. □ [+ in ] A call for a vote of no-confidence in the president was rejected. □ …a no-confidence motion.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n of N ] You can refer to something people say or do as a vote of no-confidence when it shows that they no longer support a particular person or organization. □ [+ in ] Many police officers view this action as a vote of no-confidence in their service.
noc|tur|nal /nɒktɜː r n ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Nocturnal means occurring at night. □ …long nocturnal walks.