notch
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.
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.
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
1Other words from notch
- notchy, adjective
- un·notched, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use notch in a sentence
The talent pool and support of the startup ecosystems are top notch.
8 investors discuss Stockholm’s maturing startup ecosystem | Mike Butcher | February 19, 2021 | TechCrunchAway from the ice for 10 days while on the NHL’s covid-19 protocol list, the Washington Capitals’ captain didn’t wait long to get back on the scoresheet — and move up another notch on the all-time list.
Alex Ovechkin returns, scores overtime winner as Capitals beat Bruins, 4-3 | Samantha Pell | January 31, 2021 | Washington PostSome goggles will even offer notches inside the goggles that will align at the temples with your eyeglass frames.
Best ski goggles: What to look for in a pair you’ll love | Eric Alt | January 20, 2021 | Popular-ScienceShe believed the notches represented a continuous, deep valley running down the center of the mid-ocean ridge.
Marie Tharp’s groundbreaking maps brought the seafloor to the world | Betsy Mason | January 13, 2021 | Science NewsIf they do, then Magna Carta Holy Grail has already gone platinum, notching the most first week sales of 2013.
Jay-Z Announces New Album ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’ for July 4 | Marlow Stern | June 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
It took in $122.8 billion and spent $326 billion, notching a $203.5 billion deficit.
The Sequester Is Proof that Washington Thinks We Are All Idiots | Daniel Gross | March 14, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSide notching and beveling of the blade apparently started in this period.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. CambronNotching and beveling seems to reach a climax on larger points in the early Archaic period.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. CambronLay a short log first, then a long one, notching each corner as you go so the logs will fit closely together.
Deadfalls and Snares | A. R. (Arthur Robert) HardingNotching, to form the expanded stem, was accomplished by removal of fairly deep flakes and finished by light grinding.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. CambronCut a forked stick about 12 inches long for the bait stick, notching one end and tapering the other as shown in Fig.
Deadfalls and Snares | A. R. (Arthur Robert) Harding
British Dictionary definitions for notch
/ (nɒtʃ) /
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)
to cut or make a notch in
to record with or as if with a notch
(usually foll by up) informal to score or achieve: the team notched up its fourth win
Origin of notch
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with notch
see take down a notch.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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