nov|el ◆◆◇ /nɒ v ə l/ (novels )
1 N‑COUNT A novel is a long written story about imaginary people and events. □ [+ by ] …a novel by Herman Hesse. □ …historical novels set in the time of the Pharaohs.
2 ADJ Novel things are new and different from anything that has been done, experienced, or made before. □ Protesters found a novel way of demonstrating against steeply rising oil prices. □ The very idea of a sixth form college was novel in 1962. SYNONYMS novel ADJ 2
new: …the introduction of new drugs to suppress the immune system.
different: This recipe is certainly interesting and different.
originaclass="underline" It is one of the most original works of imagination in the language.
innovative: …products which are more innovative than those of their competitors.
nov|el|ist /nɒ vəl I st/ (novelists ) N‑COUNT A novelist is a person who writes novels. □ …a romantic novelist.
no|vel|la /noʊve lə/ (novellas ) N‑COUNT A novella is a short novel or a long short story. □ [+ from ] …an autobiographical novella from French writer Marguerite Duras.
nov|el|ty /nɒ v ə lti/ (novelties )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Novelty is the quality of being different, new, and unusual. □ After a few hours, however, the novelty wore off.
2 N‑COUNT A novelty is something that is new and therefore interesting. □ It came from the days when a motor car was a novelty.
3 N‑COUNT Novelties are cheap toys, ornaments, or other objects that are sold as presents or souvenirs. □ At Easter, we give them plastic eggs filled with small toys, novelties and coins.
No|vem|ber /noʊve mbə r / (Novembers ) N‑VAR November is the eleventh month of the year in the Western calendar. □ He arrived in London in November 1939. □ He died on 24 November 2001, aged 80. □ There's no telling what the voters will do next November.
nov|ice /nɒ v I s/ (novices )
1 N‑COUNT [N n] A novice is someone who has been doing a job or other activity for only a short time and so is not experienced at it. □ [+ at ] I'm a novice at these things, Lieutenant. You're the professional. □ As a novice writer, this is something I'm interested in.
2 N‑COUNT In a monastery or convent, a novice is a person who is preparing to become a monk or nun.
now ◆◆◆ /naʊ /
1 ADV You use now to refer to the present time, often in contrast to a time in the past or the future. □ She's a widow now. □ But we are now a much more fragmented society. □ Coffee now costs well over 3 dollars a kilo. □ She should know that by now. ● PRON Now is also a pronoun. □ Now is the time when we must all live as economically as possible.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you do something now , you do it immediately. □ I'm sorry, but I must go now. □ I fear that if I don't write now I shall never have another opportunity to do so. ● PRON Now is also a pronoun. □ Now is your chance to talk to him.
3 CONJ You use now or now that to indicate that an event has occurred and as a result something else may or will happen. □ Now you're settled, why don't you take up some serious study? □ Now that she was retired she lived with her sister.
4 ADV [ADV before v] You use now to indicate that a particular situation is the result of something that has recently happened. □ She told me not to repeat it, but now I don't suppose it matters. □ Diplomats now expect the mission to be much less ambitious.
5 ADV In stories and accounts of past events, now is used to refer to the particular time that is being written or spoken about. □ She felt a little better now. □ It was too late now for Blake to lock his room door. □ By now it was completely dark outside.
6 ADV [ADV with v, n ADV ] You use now in statements which specify the length of time up to the present that something has lasted. □ They've been married now for 30 years. □ They have been missing for a long time now. □ It's some days now since I heard anything.
7 ADV You say ' Now ' or ' Now then ' to indicate to the person or people you are with that you want their attention, or that you are about to change the subject. [SPOKEN ] □ 'Now then,' Max said, 'to get back to the point.' □ Now, can we move on and discuss the vital business of the day, please.
8 ADV You use now to give a slight emphasis to a request or command. [SPOKEN ] □ Come on now. You know you must be hungry. □ Come and sit down here, now. □ Now don't talk so loud and bother him, honey.
9 ADV You can say ' Now ' to introduce information which is relevant to the part of a story or account that you have reached, and which needs to be known before you can continue. [SPOKEN ] □ My son went to Almeria in Southern Spain. Now he is someone who loves a quiet holiday. □ Now, I hadn't told him these details, so he must have done some research on his own.
10 ADV You say ' Now ' to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said. [SPOKEN ] □ Now, if it was me, I'd want to do more than just change the locks.
11 PHRASE If you say that something happens now and then or every now and again , you mean that it happens sometimes but not very often or regularly. □ My father has a collection of magazines to which I return every now and then. □ Now and again he'd join in when we were playing video games.
12 PHRASE If you say that something will happen any day now , any moment now , or any time now , you mean that it will happen very soon. □ Jim expects to be sent to Europe any day now. □ Any moment now the silence will be broken.