nought
/nɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /nɑːt/ (ame, ipa) · /nɔːt/ (ame, ipa)
nought — number
1. the number 0, especially when figures, scores, or decimals are read aloud
the number 0, especially when figures, scores, or decimals are read aloud
The nurse read the room number as nought eight on the radio.
spoken figures: nought eight
In Britain, Sayaka says nought point five when reading a decimal aloud.
The old lift buttons ran from nought to nine in one column.
The coach wrote nought beside the losing team on the final chart.
文法句型
nought + digit when reading a code
nought point + number
two nought in a score
用法筆記
This sense is common in British English when people say telephone numbers, decimals, or scores aloud. In many other contexts, zero is the more usual choice.
2. used in old-fashioned or literary English to mean no amount at all; nothing
used in old-fashioned or literary English to mean no amount at all; nothing
By dawn, the fishermen had caught nought in the frozen bay.
literary nought = nothing after a verb
After the fire, Lakshmi had nought but dark clothes left.
The ruined field gave the farmer nought after months of work.
Trang promised much, but the meeting produced nought by sunset.
文法句型
have nought
yield nought
nought but + noun
用法筆記
This use sounds old-fashioned and literary. It usually appears after verbs such as have, yield, or produce rather than in everyday conversation.
nought — noun
1. the written symbol 0, especially as a digit in a number or code
the written symbol 0, especially as a digit in a number or code
Christopher circled the final nought in the account number.
written digit in a code
The teacher asked Luca to draw a neat nought on the board.
A faded nought was missing from the house number on the gate.
Sofia added one more nought to show the price was ten times larger.
文法句型
a nought
add a nought
final nought in a number
用法筆記
This noun refers to the symbol you write, not just the value itself. It is more common in British English than in American English.
2. in a few set expressions, a result or plan that becomes nothing or is treated as
in a few set expressions, a result or plan that becomes nothing or is treated as worthless
Months of careful planning came to nought when the bridge closed.
come to nought = fail completely
The judge said the fake contract should be set at nought.
Amelia feared her savings would come to nought after the scam.
Years of patient work were set at nought by one reckless decision.
文法句型
come to nought
set at nought
用法筆記
This sense survives mainly inside fixed expressions such as come to nought and set at nought. It is not the usual everyday noun for zero or for nothing.
常見錯誤
nought — pronoun
1. nothing; not a single thing, used in literary or old-fashioned English
nothing; not a single thing, used in literary or old-fashioned English
After hours of searching, Hassan found nought in the drawer but dust.
literary pronoun after find
Mira heard nought outside the tent except rain on the canvas.
When the chest was opened, the children saw nought inside.
Elise offered help, but the old man wanted nought from anyone.
文法句型
find nought
hear nought
want nought from + somebody
用法筆記
This is a literary or old-fashioned substitute for nothing. It often appears after verbs such as find, hear, see, or want.