ˈnʌθɪŋ n. & adv. --n. 1
not anything (nothing
has been done;
have nothing to do). 2 no
thing (often foll. by compl.: I see nothing
that I
want; can
find nothing useful). 3 a a
person or thing of no
importance or
concern; a
trivial event or
remark (was nothing to
me;
the little nothings of life). b (attrib.) colloq. of no
value;
indeterminate (a nothing
sort of day). 4 non-existence;
what does not
exist. 5 (in calculations) no
amount;
nought (a
third of nothing is nothing). --adv. 1 not at
all, in no
way (helps us nothing; is nothing like enough). 2 US colloq. not at all (Is he ill? -Ill nothing, he's dead.). øbe nothing to 1 not concern. 2 not
compare with. be (or have) nothing to do with 1 have no
connection with. 2 not be involved or associated with.
for nothing 1 at no
cost;
without payment. 2 to no
purpose. have nothing on 1 be
naked. 2 have no engagements. no nothing colloq. (concluding a list of negatives) nothing at all. nothing
doing colloq. 1 a
there is no
prospect of
success or
agreement. b I refuse. 2 nothing is
happening. nothing (or nothing else) for it (often foll. by but to + infin.) no
alternative (nothing for it but to pay up). nothing (or not much) in it (or to it) 1
untrue or
unimportant. 2
simple to do. 3 no (or little)
advantage to be
seen in
one possibility over another. nothing
less than at
least (nothing less than a disaster).
think nothing of it do not
apologize or
feel bound to
show gratitude. [OE
nan thing (as
NO(1), THING)]