national
national: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of or common to a nation or the nation.
2 peculiar to or characteristic of a particular nation. --n.
1 a citizen of a specified country, usu. entitled to hold that country's passport (French nationals).
2 a fellow countryman.
3 (the National) = Grand National. ønational anthem a song adopted by a nation, expressive of its identity etc. and intended to inspire patriotism. National Assembl.
1 an elected house of legislature in various countries.
2 hist. the elected legislature in France 1789-91. National Assistance hist.
1 (in Britain) the former official name for supplementary benefits under National Insurance.
2 such benefits. national bank US a bank chartered under the federal government. national convention US a convention of a major political party, nominating candidates for the presidency etc. national debt the money owed by a State because of loans to it. national football Austral. Australian Rules football. National Front a UK political party with extreme reactionary views on immigration etc. national grid Brit.
1 the network of high-voltage electric power lines between major power stations.
2 the metric system of geographical coordinates used in maps of the British Isles. National Guard (in the US) the primary reserve force partly maintained by the States but available for federal use. National Health (or Health Service) (in the UK) a system of national medical care paid for mainly by taxation and started in 1948. national income the total money earned within a nation. National Insurance (in the UK) the system of compulsory payments by employed persons (supplemented by employers) to provide State assistance in sickness, unemployment, retirement, etc. national park an area of natural beauty protected by the State for the use of the general public. national service Brit. hist. service in the army etc. under conscription. National Socialism hist. the doctrines of nationalism, racial purity, etc., adopted by the Nazis. National Socialist hist. a member of the fascist party implementing National Socialism in Germany, 1933-45. National Trust (in the UK, Australia, etc.) an organization for maintaining and preserving historic buildings etc. øønationally adv. [F (as NATION)]
newspaper
newspaper: n.
1 a printed publication (usu. daily or weekly) containing news, advertisements, correspondence, etc.
2 the sheets of paper forming this (wrapped in newspaper).
nobleman
nobleman: n. (pl. -men) a man of noble rank or birth, a peer.
nightshade
nightshade: n. any of various poisonous plants, esp. of the genus Solanum, including S. nigrum (black nightshade) with black berries, and S. dulcamara (woody nightshade) with red berries. ødeadly nightshade = BELLADONNA. [OE nihtscada app. formed as NIGHT + SHADE, prob. with ref. to its poisonous properties]
negotiate
negotiate: v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by with) confer with others in order to reach a compromise or agreement.
2 tr. arrange (an affair) or bring about (a result) by negotiating (negotiated a settlement).
3 tr. find a way over, through, etc. (an obstacle, difficulty, fence, etc.).
4 tr. a transfer (a cheque etc.) to another for a consideration. b convert (a cheque etc.) into cash or notes. c get or give value for (a cheque etc.) in money. øønegotiant n. negotiation n. negotiator n. [L negotiari f. negotium business f. neg- not + otium leisure]
napalm
napalm: n. & v. --n.
1 a thickening agent produced from naphthenic acid, other fatty acids, and aluminium.
2 a jellied petrol made from this, used in incendiary bombs. --v.tr. attack with napalm bombs. [NAPHTHENIC + palmitic acid in coconut oil]
naphtha
naphtha: n. an inflammable oil obtained by the dry distillation of organic substances such as coal, shale, or petroleum. [L f. Gk, = inflammable volatile liquid issuing from the earth, of Oriental origin]
navel
navel: n.
1 a depression in the centre of the belly caused by the detachment of the umbilical cord.
2 a central point. ønavel orange a large seedless orange with a navel-like formation at the top. [OE nafela f. Gmc, rel. to NAVE(2)]
nutmeg
nutmeg: n.
1 an evergreen E. Indian tree, Myristica fragrans, yielding a hard aromatic spheroidal seed.
2 the seed of this used as a spice and in medicine. ønutmeg-apple the fruit of this tree, yielding mace and nutmeg. [ME: partial transl. of OF nois mug(u)ede ult. f. L nux nut + LL muscus MUSK]
navvy
navvy: n. & v. Brit. --n. (pl. -ies) a labourer employed in building or excavating roads, canals, etc. --v.intr. (-ies, -ied) work as a navvy. [abbr. of NAVIGATOR]
naos
naos: n. (pl. naoi) Gk Hist. the inner part of a temple. [Gk, = temple]
normally
normally: adv.
1 in a normal manner.
2 usually.
narcissism
narcissism: n. Psychol. excessive or erotic interest in oneself, one's physical features, etc. øønarcissist n. narcissistic adj. narcissistically adv. [Narcissus (Gk Narkissos), youth who fell in love with his reflection in water]
nameless
nameless: adj.
1 having no name or name-inscription.
2 inexpressible; indefinable (a nameless sensation).
3 unnamed; anonymous, esp. deliberately (our informant, who shall be nameless).
4 too loathsome or horrific to be named (nameless vices).
5 obscure; inglorious.
6 illegitimate. øønamelessly adv. namelessness n.
nursery
nursery: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a a room or place equipped for young children. b = day nursery.
2 a place where plants, trees, etc., are reared for sale or transplantation.
3 any sphere or place in or by which qualities or types of people are fostered or bred.
4 Billiards a grouped balls (see NURSE v. 6). b (in full nursery cannon) a cannon on three close balls. ønursery nurse a person trained to take charge of babies and young children. nursery rhyme a simple traditional song or story in rhyme for children. nursery school a school for children between the ages of three and five. nursery slopes Skiing gentle slopes suitable for beginners. nursery stakes a race for two-year-old horses.
navigator
navigator: n.
1 a person skilled or engaged in navigation.
2 an explorer by sea. [L (as NAVIGATE)]
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