[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/notch/)

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# notch

noun (a notch, notches); verb (notch, notches, notched, notching)

«notch» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A small V-shaped cut in an edge or surface. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#m1)
2. A level or step on a scale: turn the heat up a notch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#m2)
3. (verb) To make a notch in something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#m3)
4. (verb, informal) notch up: to achieve or score: notch up a win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life you tighten your belt by a notch, or turn the volume «up a notch». In history and stories, people cut notches in sticks to count days (tally sticks). In sport, teams «notch up» wins. Phrases: up a notch, top-notch (excellent), notch up.

### Examples

- He tightened his belt by one notch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x1)
- Turn the music down a notch, please. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x2)
- The prisoner cut a notch in the wall for each day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x3)
- Our team notched up another win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x4)
- The cake was top-notch! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x5)
- Cut a small notch in the stick to hold the string. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x6)
- The tally stick had twelve notches. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x7)
- He took the bow, and fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and let fly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/#x8)

### Note

Countable: notches (add -es). «Top-notch» (informal) = excellent. In maths history, notches on bones and sticks were an early way of counting (tally marks).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «notch» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/notch/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«notch» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/notch.html) on Mova free.