Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

noble

Pronunciation: /ˈnəʊb(ə)l/
Translate noble | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of noble

adjective (nobler, noblest)

  • 1belonging by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy: the medieval palace was once owned by a noble Florentine family the Duchess of Kent and several other noble ladies
  • 2having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles:the promotion of human rights was a noble aspiration
  • of imposing or magnificent size or appearance: noble arches and massive granite columns there is nothing more noble than a mature pine forest
  • of excellent or superior quality: Chardonnay is the noble grape from which some of the finest white wines are produced

noun

  • 1(especially in former times) a person of noble rank or birth: the greater a noble’s military power, the more land he could control the king imposed a tax on both nobles and peasants
  • 2 historical a former English gold coin first issued in 1351.

Phrases

the noble art (or science) (of self-defence)

archaic boxing.

Derivatives

nobleness

noun

nobly

adverb

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, from Latin (g)nobilis 'noted, high-born', from an Indo-European root shared by know

noble in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of noble in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

monocular

/ məˈnɒkjʊlə /
adjective , noun
with, for, or in one eye …