3 N‑COUNT A norm is an official standard or level that organizations are expected to reach. □ …an agency which would establish European norms and co-ordinate national policies to halt pollution.
nor|mal ◆◆◇ /nɔː r m ə l/
1 ADJ Something that is normal is usual and ordinary, and is what people expect. □ He has occasional injections to maintain his good health but otherwise he lives a normal life. □ The two countries resumed normal diplomatic relations. □ [+ for ] Some of the shops were closed but that's quite normal for a Thursday afternoon. □ Life here will continue as normal.
2 ADJ A normal person has no serious physical or mental health problems. □ Normal people just don't react like that. □ Will the baby be normal?
nor|mal|cy /nɔː r m ə lsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Normalcy is a situation in which everything is normal. □ Underneath this image of normalcy, addiction threatened to rip this family apart.
nor|mal|ity /nɔː r mæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Normality is a situation in which everything is normal. □ A semblance of normality has returned with people going to work and shops re-opening. [Also + of ]
nor|mal|ize /nɔː r məla I z/ (normalizes , normalizing , normalized ) in BRIT, also use normalise 1 VERB When you normalize a situation or when it normalizes , it becomes normal. □ [V n] Meditation tends to lower or normalize blood pressure. □ [V ] After the interview your body chemistry normalizes.
2 VERB If people, groups, or governments normalize relations, or when relations normalize , they become normal or return to normal. □ [V n] The two governments were close to normalizing relations. □ [V n + with ] The United States says they are not prepared to join in normalizing ties with their former enemy. □ [V ] If relations between the two countries begin to normalise, anything is possible. ● nor|mali|za|tion /nɔː r məla I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The two sides would like to see the normalisation of diplomatic relations.
nor|mal|ly ◆◇◇ /nɔː r məli/
1 ADV [ADV with v] If you say that something normally happens or that you normally do a particular thing, you mean that it is what usually happens or what you usually do. □ All airports in the country are working normally today. □ Social progress is normally a matter of struggles and conflicts. □ Normally, the transportation system in Paris carries 950,000 passengers a day.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you do something normally , you do it in the usual or conventional way. □ She would apparently eat normally and then make herself sick. □ …failure of the blood to clot normally. SYNONYMS normally ADV 1
usually: Usually, the work is boring.
generally: It is generally true that the darker the fruit, the higher its iron content.
commonly: Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.
typically: It typically takes a day or two, depending on size.
Nor|man /nɔː r mən/ (Normans )
1 N‑COUNT The Normans were the people who came from northern France and took control of England in 1066, or their descendants.
2 ADJ Norman is used to refer to the period of history in Britain from 1066 until around 1300, and in particular to the style of architecture of that period. □ In Norman England, the greyhound was a symbol of nobility. □ …a Norman castle.
nor|ma|tive /nɔː r mət I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Normative means creating or stating particular rules of behaviour. [FORMAL ] □ Normative sexual behaviour in our society remains heterosexual. □ …a normative model of teaching.
Norse /nɔː r s/
1 ADJ Norse means belonging or relating to Scandinavian countries in medieval times. □ In Norse mythology the moon is personified as male.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Norse is the language that was spoken in Scandinavian countries in medieval times.
Norse|man /nɔː r smən/ (Norsemen ) N‑COUNT The Norsemen were people who lived in Scandinavian countries in medieval times.
north ◆◆◆ /nɔː r θ/ also North
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] The north is the direction which is on your left when you are looking towards the direction where the sun rises. □ In the north the ground becomes very cold as the winter snow and ice covers the ground. □ Birds usually migrate from north to south.
2 N‑SING The north of a place, country, or region is the part which is in the north. □ The scheme mostly benefits people in the North and Midlands. □ [+ of ] …a tiny house in a village in the north of France.
3 ADV [ADV after v] If you go north , you travel towards the north. □ Anita drove north up Pacific Highway.
4 ADV Something that is north of a place is positioned to the north of it. □ [+ of ] …a little village a few miles north of Portsmouth.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] The north edge, corner, or part of a place or country is the part which is towards the north. □ …the north side of the mountain. □ They were coming in to land on the north coast of Crete.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] ' North ' is used in the names of some countries, states, and regions in the north of a larger area. □ There were demonstrations this weekend in cities throughout North America, Asia and Europe.