notch

[ noch ]

/ nɒtʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR notch 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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orchard

body of land completely surrounded by water

group of cultivated fruit trees

long mournful cry

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Idioms for 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

notch·y, adjectiveun·notched, adjective

Words nearby notch

notarize, notary, notary public, notate, notation, notch, notch baby, notch effect, notchback, notched collar, notchy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for notch

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
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
Did you feel Archer needed to, in the words of Emeril, kick it up a notch?
'Archer Creator Adam Reed on 'Vice,' Season 6's 'Unreboot,' and New Characters|Marlow Stern|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Despite committing 13 penalties, the Iroquois roared back from a late 8-3 deficit to notch it at 8-8 before giving up a late goal.
A Millennium After Inventing the Game, the Iroquois Are Lacrosse’s New Superpower|Evin Demirel|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sternum differs from that of C. clangula by having the notch lower, more faint behind and shorter in front.
Extinct Birds|Walter Rothschild
Notch the lower block to fit over strip J, and cut the cap block large enough to project 1/8 inch all around.
Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys|A. Neely Hall
The lip is swollen and four-lobed, but without any appendage in the notch, and is of a deep purple-brown, with yellowish markings.
Field and Woodland Plants|William S. Furneaux
Then the door could be opened only when the tooth and notch were brought in line.
The Scientific American Boy|A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond
Instead of gaining two thousand dollars, he lost two thousand, and was back at the sixteen thousand dollar notch again.
The Cassowary|Stanley Waterloo

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 ]

n.

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

An upstroke or peak on a pulse tracing.

Idioms and Phrases with notch

notch

see take down a notch.

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