- [countable] a short piece of writing to help you remember something
- Please make a note of the dates.
- She made a mental note (= decided that she must remember) to ask Alan about it.
- Note to self (= a mental instruction): book more holidays.
Extra Examples- I've made a note of the book's title.
- She kept detailed notes of her travels.
- She made a mental note to call them in the morning.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- copious
- detailed
- …
- jot down
- keep
- make
- …
- note of
- note on
- make a mental note (of something/to do something)
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- [countable] a short informal letter
- Just a quick note to say thank you for a wonderful evening.
- She left a note for Ben on the kitchen table.
- He wrote a note to his parents saying he was leaving.
Extra Examplessee also suicide note- I left a note for Judith on her desk.
- She left me a note to say my dinner was in the oven.
- I saw you two passing notes during class.
- Just a quick note to wish you luck.
- He gave a handwritten note to the principal.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- little
- quick
- …
- scribble (somebody)
- write (somebody)
- send (somebody)
- …
- a note of thanks
- notes[plural] information that you write down when somebody is speaking, or when you are reading a book, etc.
- He sat taking notes of everything that was said.
- Can I borrow your lecture notes?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- copious
- detailed
- …
- jot down
- keep
- make
- …
- note of
- note on
- make a mental note (of something/to do something)
- notes[plural] detailed information that is kept about a particular person, topic or situation
- Patients' medical notes have gone missing.
- notes on something He kept notes on the birds, mammals, reptiles and plants he saw on walks.
- [countable, usually plural] information about a performance, an actor’s career, a piece of music, etc. printed in a special book or on a record cover, etc.
- The booklet has full notes on each artist.
- The catalogue contains detailed notes on each painting.
- (British English) The sleeve notes include a short biography of the performers on this recording.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- detailed
- extensive
- explanatory
- …
- [countable] a short comment on a word or passage in a book
- a new edition of ‘Hamlet’, with explanatory notes
- See note 3, page 259.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- detailed
- extensive
- explanatory
- …
- (British English) (also banknote especially in British English)(North American English usually bill)[countable] a piece of paper money
- a £5 note
- We only exchange notes and traveller's cheques.
- a thick wad of notes
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- five-pound
- ten-euro
- etc.
- …
- bundle
- roll
- wad
- …
- [countable] a single sound of a particular length and pitch (= how high or low a sound is), made by the voice or a musical instrument; the written or printed sign for a musical note
- He played the first few notes of the tune.
- high/low notes
- I played a lot of wrong notes because I was so nervous.
Extra ExamplesTopics Musicb2- Some of the high notes were difficult for him to sing.
- She's a bit wobbly on the top notes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- top
- low
- …
- play
- sing
- hit
- …
- [singular] a particular quality in something, for example in somebody’s voice or the atmosphere at an event; a comment on something with a particular quality synonym air
- note of something There was a note of amusement in his voice.
- on a… note It's good to finish on a positive note.
- On a more serious note (= speaking more seriously)…
- On a slightly different note (= changing the subject slightly), let’s talk about…
- The year ended on an optimistic note.
- As a side note, the entire festival is free.
Extra Examples- His remarks injected a note of levity into the proceedings.
- I detected a faint note of weariness in his voice.
- On a brighter note…
- On a completely unrelated note…
- The conference ended on an optimistic note.
- There was a sad note in her voice.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brighter
- cheerful
- happier
- …
- hit
- sound
- strike
- …
- creep into somebody’s voice
- enter somebody’s voice
- note of
- a note in somebody’s voice
- [countable] an official document with a particular purpose
- a sick note from your doctor
- The buyer has to sign a delivery note as proof of receipt.
- Students returning to school after absence must bring a note from their parents.
- [countable] (specialist) an official letter from the representative of one government to another
- an exchange of diplomatic notes
to remind you
short letter
information
in book
money
in music
quality
official document
Word OriginMiddle English (in sense 6 of the noun and both verb senses): from Old French note (noun), noter (verb), from Latin nota ‘a mark’, notare ‘to mark’.
Idioms
See note in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee note in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishcompare notes (with somebody)
- if two or more people compare notes, they each say what they think about the same event, situation, etc.
- We saw the play separately and compared notes afterwards.
- Let's compare notes on our experiences.
hit/strike the right/wrong note
- (especially British English) to do, say or write something that is suitable/not suitable for a particular occasion
- It is a bizarre tale and the author hits just the right note of horror and disbelief.
- Unfortunately, the president struck the wrong note in his speech, ignoring the public mood.
of note
- of importance or of great interest
- a scientist of note
- The museum contains nothing of great note.
sound/strike a note (of something)
- to express feelings or opinions of a particular kind
- She sounded a note of warning in her speech.
- The touch of cynicism struck a slightly sour note.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentc2- He sounded a cautionary note.
- His opening remarks struck the right note.
take note (of something)
- to pay attention to something and be sure to remember it
- Take note of what he says.
- Under the new rules the penalty for illegal play is increased. Players take note.
- He took careful note of the suspicious-looking man in the corner of the bar.
worthy of note
- worth paying attention to
- The frescoes are worthy of note.
Check pronunciation:
note