note
A2All registers: formal, informal, academic, business.
Definition
Meaning
A brief written record used to help memory or to communicate information.
A brief comment, explanation, or piece of information; a single musical tone or its symbol; a particular quality, tone, or feeling (e.g., a note of optimism); a banknote; official written communication; attention or notice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Polysemous word with meanings extending from a physical object (written note) to abstract concepts (musical note, tone/feeling). The core idea is a discrete unit of information, sound, or value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling differences in derived terms (e.g., notepaper/notepaper, notelet/notecard). In business, 'note' can refer to a formal diplomatic communication; common in both. Slight preference in the UK for 'note' vs. 'memo' for internal messages.
Connotations
Similar connotations. 'A note of caution/optimism' equally common. 'Banknote' is formal; 'note' is common in both (e.g., a ten-pound note / a ten-dollar bill).
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties. Verb usage 'to note that...' equally common in formal writing. The expression 'take note of' is slightly more formal in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to note something (V + N)to note that + clause (V + that-clause)to note down something (V + particle + N)to take note of something (V + N + Prep + N)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take note (of something)”
- “compare notes”
- “strike a note (of)”
- “on a different note”
- “worthy of note”
- “hit the right note”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A formal record or communication (e.g., 'credit note', 'promissory note', 'minutes and notes').
Academic
A brief record of facts or sources (e.g., 'footnote', 'take notes', 'author's note').
Everyday
A short written message or reminder (e.g., 'I left a note on the fridge').
Technical
A single musical sound or its written symbol; a key on a keyboard; in computing, a short text document.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please note the change in schedule.
- I must note down your number.
- He noted with satisfaction that the plan worked.
American English
- The report notes a significant increase.
- Note the instructions carefully.
- She noted the discrepancy immediately.
adjective
British English
- It is particularly note-worthy.
- He gave a note-perfect performance.
American English
- That was a noteworthy achievement.
- The note-perfect rendition impressed everyone.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I wrote a note for my teacher.
- Can you sing this note?
- She left a note on the table.
- Please note that the office closes at 5 pm.
- He took notes during the lecture.
- There was a note of sadness in her voice.
- The author added a brief explanatory note to the preface.
- The diplomat delivered a formal note of protest.
- On a more positive note, sales have improved.
- The judge's summing-up struck a cautionary note.
- It is important to note the subtle distinctions between the two theories.
- The promissory note was due in ninety days.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a NOTEbook: you write NOTES to remember things. Each musical NOTE is written down. A bankNOTE is a piece of paper with value written on it.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION / VALUE IS AN OBJECT (You can take note, pass a note, issue a note). TONE / MOOD IS A MUSICAL NOTE (strike a positive note).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'нота' (musical note, diplomatic note). Does not mean 'notebook' (that's 'тетрадь' or 'блокнот').
- "Take note of" ≠ 'брать ноту', it means 'обратить внимание'.
- "Note" as a verb is often better translated as 'отметить' or 'записать', not 'нотировать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'note' as a synonym for 'letter' (a note is short).
- Confusing 'note' (N) with 'notice' (V) (I noted his absence vs. I noticed his absence).
- Spelling: 'not' instead of 'note' in writing.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The speech ended on an optimistic note', what does 'note' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'To note' often implies a deliberate act of recording or observing for a purpose. 'To notice' is more about perceiving or becoming aware of something, often accidentally.
Yes, but rarely on its own. It appears in compound adjectives like 'noteworthy' (deserving attention) or 'note-perfect' (flawlessly performed).
It's an idiom meaning to exchange information or opinions about an experience with someone else, to see if your observations agree.
Primarily countable (a note, several notes). It can be uncountable in fixed expressions like 'take note' or 'of note', meaning 'attention' or 'importance'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.