notch

American  

[noch] / nɒtʃ /

noun

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

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

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

4. Informal. a step, degree, or grade.

   This camera is a notch better than the other.

5. Metallurgy. a taphole in a blast furnace.

   iron notch; cinder notch.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut or make a notch in.

2. to record by notches.

   He notched each kill on the stick.

3. to score, as in a game.

   He notched another win.

idioms

1. notch up / down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees.

   The temperature has notched up another degree.

notch British  

/ nɒtʃ /

noun

1. a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick

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

3. a narrow pass or gorge

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

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verb

1. to cut or make a notch in

2. to record with or as if with a notch

3. informal (usually foll by up) to score or achieve

   the team notched up its fourth win

notch More Idioms  

1. see take down a notch.

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Other Word Forms

• notchy adjective
• unnotched adjective

Etymology

Origin of notch

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

Example Sentences

Max Space, which recently notched a multimillion-dollar investment from Voyager Technologies, is developing space habitats designed to fit on launch vehicles and then expand to up to 20 times their compact size.

From MarketWatch

Canadian production of marketable natural gas climbed 6.3% on-year, notching a third consecutive record high as domestic consumption and exports grew.

From The Wall Street Journal

And manufacturing in Canada contracted 1.4%, more than countering an increase in December as the automotive sector notched the biggest retreat since September 2021 due to an extended winter shutdown at assembly plants in Ontario.

From The Wall Street Journal

The recent volatility has minted some winners—stocks in the S&P 500 energy sector are up 39% this year, on track to notch their best quarterly performance on record.

From The Wall Street Journal

The S&P 500 last week closed down 2.1%, notching its largest decline since the week ended Oct.

From Barron's

Related Words

• rung