naught
/nɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /nɑːt/ (ame, ipa) · /nɔːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnȯt ˈnät/ (ame, mw)
naught — 數詞
1. no amount at all; nothing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
毫無
古語，指一點數量或成果都沒有
no amount at all; nothing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
By winter, the dry field gave the family naught but dust.
到了冬天，那塊乾田除了塵土外已毫無收成。
naught but + noun for no useful result
After three weeks of trade, the stall owner earned naught.
做了三週生意後，那個攤販仍然毫無進帳。
The tired miners found naught in the narrow side tunnel.
疲憊的礦工在狹窄的側坑裡仍一無所獲。
For all their planning, the cousins had naught to show.
他們規劃了那麼久，到頭來表兄妹卻毫無成果可示。
- 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
零
數字 0；零值
the number 0; zero
The board showed naught beside our team after the first half.
上半場後，我們隊旁邊的記分板仍顯示零。
scoreboard use for zero
Aya wrote naught under the answer because nothing was left.
Aya 因為沒有剩餘數值，就在答案下方寫了零。
At dawn, the mountain air was naught degrees above freezing.
清晨時，山上的空氣溫度是零度以上。
The cashier entered naught for the discount on the screen.
收銀員在螢幕上把折扣欄輸入為零。
- 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 — 名詞
1. in fixed phrases, no result at all or no useful purpose
落空；白費
片語中指徒勞無功
in fixed phrases, no result at all or no useful purpose
Months of repair work came to naught after the second flood.
第二次洪水一來，幾個月的修復工作就落空了。
come to naught = fail completely
All her careful notes were for naught when the file vanished.
檔案一消失，她仔細做的筆記就全都白費了。
for naught = with no useful result
Our long train ride was all for naught after the fair closed.
那場展覽一關閉，我們漫長的火車行程就全都白費了。
The peace talks came to naught before the winter storm ended.
和平談判在冬季暴風結束前就已落空。
- 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
虛無；不足道
文語，指不存在或不值一提之物
nothingness, or something treated as having no value or importance
After the fire, the old theater was reduced to naught by morning.
火災過後，那座老劇院到早晨前已化為虛無。
reduce to naught = destroy completely
The general counted village lives as naught during the retreat.
那位將軍在撤退期間把村民的性命視為不足道。
count as naught = treat as worthless
Beside her child's health, the lost jewelry was naught.
和孩子的健康相比，失去的珠寶根本不足道。
The monk wrote that fame turns to naught in old age.
那位修士寫道，名聲到了老年終將歸於虛無。
- 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 — 代名詞
1. nothing; not a single thing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
無一物
古語，指什麼都沒有
nothing; not a single thing, used in old-fashioned or literary English
After an hour of digging, Brooke found naught but wet sand.
挖了一個小時後，Brooke 除了濕沙外仍什麼也沒找到。
find naught but + noun
In the dark shed, Tariq heard naught except the rain.
在黑暗的小棚裡，Tariq 除了雨聲外什麼也沒聽見。
The open box held naught after the children searched it.
孩子們翻找過後，打開的盒子裡空無一物。
Nora said she wanted naught from the mayor but answers.
Nora 說，她向市長所求的只有答案，別無他物。
- 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.