naught
/nɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /nɑːt/ (ame, ipa) · /nɔːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnȯt ˈnät/ (ame, mw)
naught — number
1. no amount at all; nothing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
no amount at all; nothing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
By winter, the dry field gave the family naught but dust.
naught but + noun for no useful result
After three weeks of trade, the stall owner earned naught.
The tired miners found naught in the narrow side tunnel.
For all their planning, the cousins had naught to show.
- something
shows that at least some result or amount exists
文法句型
have naught
earn naught
naught but + noun
用法筆記
This old-fashioned use usually refers to an amount, gain, or result that is completely absent. Distinguish it from pronoun sense 1, which stands alone as the thing missing rather than naming the amount.
2. the number 0; zero
the number 0; zero
The board showed naught beside our team after the first half.
scoreboard use for zero
Aya wrote naught under the answer because nothing was left.
At dawn, the mountain air was naught degrees above freezing.
The cashier entered naught for the discount on the screen.
- one
the next number above zero
文法句型
show naught
enter naught
naught degrees
用法筆記
This sense names the number 0 itself. The spelling now feels older and less usual than zero, even when a score or record shows that value.
naught — noun
1. in fixed phrases, no result at all or no useful purpose
in fixed phrases, no result at all or no useful purpose
Months of repair work came to naught after the second flood.
come to naught = fail completely
All her careful notes were for naught when the file vanished.
for naught = with no useful result
Our long train ride was all for naught after the fair closed.
The peace talks came to naught before the winter storm ended.
- success
the opposite outcome when effort produces the wanted result
文法句型
come to naught
for naught
all for naught
用法筆記
This noun survives mainly inside fixed phrases such as come to naught and for naught. In everyday English, speakers usually say that effort was wasted or that a plan failed.
常見錯誤
2. nothingness, or something treated as having no value or importance
nothingness, or something treated as having no value or importance
After the fire, the old theater was reduced to naught by morning.
reduce to naught = destroy completely
The general counted village lives as naught during the retreat.
count as naught = treat as worthless
Beside her child's health, the lost jewelry was naught.
The monk wrote that fame turns to naught in old age.
- nothingness
the most direct modern word for complete nonexistence
- trifle
focuses on something small or unimportant rather than absent
- insignificance
emphasizes lack of importance more than literal nonexistence
- importance
the opposite when something truly matters
- substance
the opposite when something has real presence or value
文法句型
reduce to naught
count as naught
be naught beside + noun
用法筆記
This sense is strongly literary. It often appears when a writer says something has vanished into nothingness or is negligible beside something greater.
naught — pronoun
1. nothing; not a single thing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
nothing; not a single thing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
After an hour of digging, Brooke found naught but wet sand.
find naught but + noun
In the dark shed, Tariq heard naught except the rain.
The open box held naught after the children searched it.
Nora said she wanted naught from the mayor but answers.
- something
means that at least one thing exists or is found
文法句型
find naught
hear naught
want naught from + somebody
用法筆記
Unlike number sense 1, this sense stands alone as the object or subject of the clause rather than naming the amount missing. In everyday English, nothing is the normal choice.