note

/noʊt/
a brief written or printed piece of information

She left a note on the fridge reminding everyone to buy milk.

A short written message was left to remind people about a task.


general

a brief written or printed piece of information, typically one that is easily read or remembered

He scribbled a quick note before leaving the meeting.

He wrote a short message hastily before exiting the meeting.

The doctor gave me a note with instructions for my medication.

The doctor provided a written set of guidelines for my medicine.

Can also refer to a short musical composition or a tone in music.

music

a musical tone or sequence of tones

The violinist played a high note at the end of the piece.

The violinist performed a high-pitched musical tone to conclude the performance.

In music, a note can refer to a pitch or a symbol representing a pitch.

informal

a short written message or reminder

I left a note for my roommate about the rent due date.

I wrote a reminder for my roommate about the upcoming rent payment.

Commonly used in everyday communication.

Collocations

take noteto pay attention or remember somethingnote downto write something down for future referencein notein written form, especially in a musical score

Related Phrases

take notephrasal verb
to pay attention
note to selfphrase
a reminder to oneself

Pro Tip

Common Usage

'Note' is often used in everyday language to refer to a short written message or reminder.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

In formal contexts, 'note' can refer to a formal written statement or document, such as a diplomatic note or a medical note.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'note', from Old French 'note', from Latin 'nota' meaning 'mark, sign, character'.

Usage Notes

In formal contexts, 'note' can refer to a formal written statement or document, such as a diplomatic note or a medical note.

Word Breakdown

not
from Latin 'nota' meaning 'mark'
root
+
-e
a suffix indicating a thing or action
suffix
English Dictionary