notch

[ noch ]

/ nɒtʃ /

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See synonyms for: notch / notched on Thesaurus.com

noun

an angular or V-shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.

a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.

New England and Upstate New York. a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.

Informal. a step, degree, or grade: This camera is a notch better than the other.

Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace: iron notch; cinder notch.

verb (used with object)

to cut or make a notch in.

to record by notches: He notched each kill on the stick.

to score, as in a game: He notched another win.

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Idioms about notch

notch up / down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees: The temperature has notched up another degree.

Origin of notch

1570–80; a notch (by false division) for an*otch<Old French oche notch

OTHER WORDS FROM notch

notchy, adjectiveun·notched, adjective

Words nearby notch

not born yesterday, not breathe a word, not built that way, not by a long shot, not by any means, notch, notch baby, notchback, notched collar, notch effect, notchy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use notch in a sentence

About two weeks before your gathering, though, it’s time to take your efforts up a notch.
How to plan a COVID-safe Thanksgiving, week-by-week|Kate Baggaley|October 30, 2020|Popular-Science
Take your kitchen game up a notch when you invest in creative cookware.
Unique pan designs for a creative cooking experience|PopSci Commerce Team|October 28, 2020|Popular-Science
However, there are certain things you can do to take your search engine optimization a notch up with Bing.
Five excellent tips to optimize SEO for Bing – not Google|Justin Staples|October 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Instead, use those patterns as signals for when to ramp up activities or take things down a notch.
Everything You Need to Know About Period Tracking|Christine Yu|September 6, 2020|Outside Online

Billings suggested that it might be possible to store information about people as notches in the sides of cards.
Punching in|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Now they are a notch on a belt, and the savior can feel good about themselves.
To Catch a Sex Worker: A&E’s Awful, Exploitative Ambush Show|Samantha Allen|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Can you imagine Superman being handed over to a writer just a notch above amateur?
Wonder Woman Takes a Big Step Back|Hugh Ryan|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And from the start, with top-notch production values certainly upgraded from a “YouTube video,” Alpha House did.
Inside the Political Fun House: How ‘Alpha House’ Became Amazon’s First Big Hit|Kevin Fallon|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With top-notch designers, developers, and producers, they can even transform their own platforms.
Why Isn't Silicon Valley Doing More to Fight Ebola?|Abby Haglage|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But while they have been taken down a notch, giants like Goldman Sachs still tower over their regulators.
The Incredible 'Wussiness' Of The Fed Vs Goldman Sachs—Caught On Tape|Daniel Gross|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There must be a fly-wheel, with a notch to carry the rope, and also a small notch wheel on the drum-axle.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The sides of the notch were steep, and the boys rode through it in single file, Matt taking the lead.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
The ridge was broken by a notch, and the road crawled through the opening and into the defile.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Matt had just time to catch a glimpse of a rock rushing down the side of the notch.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
In less than a quarter of an hour afterward he reached the notch, Matt wheeling into it close at his heels.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for notch

notch

/ (nɒtʃ) /

noun

a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick

a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object

US and Canadian a narrow pass or gorge

informal a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above)

verb (tr)

to cut or make a notch in

to record with or as if with a notch

(usually foll by up) informal to score or achievethe team notched up its fourth win

Word Origin for notch

C16: from incorrect division of an otch (as a notch), from Old French oche notch, from Latin obsecāre to cut off, from secāre to cut

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for notch

notch

[ nŏch ]

An indentation at the edge of a structure; an incisure.

An upstroke or peak on a pulse tracing.

Other Idioms and Phrases with notch

notch

see take down a notch.

notch

Idioms about notch

Origin of notch

OTHER WORDS FROM notch

Words nearby notch

Words related to notch

How to use notch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for notch

Word Origin for notch

Medical definitions for notch

Other Idioms and Phrases with notch