nought

noun (a nought, noughts); number (nought)

«nought» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

(UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) The number zero, 0. tree →
(literary) Nothing (more often spelled "naught"). tree →

In the lessons

A maths word in British-style schools: "nought point five" (0.5), "ten has one ten and nought ones", and the game "noughts and crosses" (US: tic-tac-toe). In maths problems, nought means the value is zero.

Examples

Write a nought in the units column. tree →
Nought point five is the same as a half. tree →
Let's play noughts and crosses. tree →
The temperature fell to nought degrees. tree →
A million has six noughts. tree →
Anything multiplied by nought is nought. tree →
The score was three–nought. (UK sport usually says "three–nil") tree →
She saw nought the first day. tree →

Note

UK word; Americans say "zero". In maths: adding nought changes nothing; multiplying by nought gives nought; you cannot divide by nought. Trap: "nought" (zero) vs "naught" (nothing).

In Jewish tradition

Examples

Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it; for nought of your work shall be diminished.' (Torah EXO.5.11, JPS 1917) tree →
but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all; we have nought save this manna to look to.' — (Torah NUM.11.6, JPS 1917) tree →
And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?' (Torah GEN.29.15, JPS 1917) tree →
And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger? (Writings JOB.35.15, JPS 1917) tree →
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said: 'Doth Job fear God for nought? (Writings JOB.1.9, JPS 1917) tree →
All Thy commandments are faithful; they persecute me for nought; help Thou me. (Writings PSA.119.86, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

UK word; Americans say "zero". In maths: adding nought changes nothing; multiplying by nought gives nought; you cannot divide by nought. Trap: "nought" (zero) vs "naught" (nothing).

Early Modern English

Meaning

Nothing; in the texts it means no part, or nothing at all. tree →

Then and now

Old form of "naught" (nothing); today "nought" also means the number zero, which is used in British English and not in these sentences.

Examples

Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it; for nought of your work shall be diminished.' (Torah EXO.5.11, JPS 1917) tree →
She saw nought the first day. (More English Fairy Tales) tree →
but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all; we have nought save this manna to look to.' — (Torah NUM.11.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: nothing.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «nought» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«nought» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «nought» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«nought» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «nought» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«nought» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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