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NAUGHT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Complete failure
Example:
all my efforts led to naught
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("naught" is a kind of...):
failure (an act that fails)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A quantity of no importance
Example:
I didn't hear zilch about it
Synonyms:
aught; cipher; cypher; goose egg; nada; naught; nil; nix; nothing; null; zero; zilch; zip; zippo
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("naught" is a kind of...):
relative quantity (a quantity relative to some purpose)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "naught"):
nihil ((Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ))
bugger all; Fanny Adams; fuck all; sweet Fanny Adams (little or nothing at all)
Context examples:
As he had howled, in his puppy days, when he fled back from the Wild to the village to find it vanished and naught but a rubbish-heap to mark the site of Grey Beaver's tepee, so now he pointed his muzzle to the cold stars and told to them his woe.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
Ma foi! it was a foolish thing, for we came forth from the hedges, and there was naught to guard the baggage had they ridden round behind us.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
But Martin, looking into his eyes, saw no fear there,—naught but a curious and mocking devil.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
"Nay, there was naught but her, and she was housekeeper;" and of her, reader, I could not bear to ask the relief for want of which I was sinking; I could not yet beg; and again I crawled away.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
And saw you naught else?
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He had been a bit ailing like the day before, but naught to signify; and when Mr. St. John asked if he would like either o' ye to be sent for, he fair laughed at him.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
And naught else?
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Naught of any price.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
