notch

[noch]

noun

1. an angular or V -shaped cut, indentation, or slit in an object, surface, or edge.

2. a cut or nick made in a stick or other object for record, as in keeping a tally.

3. New England and Upstate New York.,  a deep, narrow opening or pass between mountains; gap; defile.

4. Informal.,  a step, degree, or grade.

   This camera is a notch better than the other.

5. Metallurgy.,  a taphole in a blast furnace.

   iron notch; cinder notch.

verb (used with object)

1. to cut or make a notch in.

2. to record by notches.

   He notched each kill on the stick.

3. to score, as in a game.

   He notched another win.

notch

/ nɒtʃ /

noun

1. a V-shaped cut or indentation; nick

2. a cut or nick made in a tally stick or similar object

3. a narrow pass or gorge

4. informal,  a step or level (esp in the phrase a notch above )

verb

1. to cut or make a notch in

2. to record with or as if with a notch

3. informal,  (usually foll by up) to score or achieve

   the team notched up its fourth win

Other Word Forms

• notchy adjective
• unnotched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of notch¹

1570–80; a notch (by false division) for an *otch < Old French oche notch

Word History and Origins

Origin of notch¹

C16: from incorrect division of an otch (as a notch ), from Old French oche notch, from Latin obsecāre to cut off, from secāre to cut

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. notch up / down, to move up or down or increase or decrease by notches or degrees.

   The temperature has notched up another degree.

see take down a notch.

Example Sentences

After notching up three number one singles, three number one albums and two Brit awards, the band struggled to find the same charts success again and were dropped by their record label.

From BBC

Those series have already notched a few early wins at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, held last week.

From Los Angeles Times

If that did happen, tensions in an already divided region would move up a notch or two.

From BBC

Fortunately for Helton, he took the Eagles to a bowl game in his first season, beat Nebraska on the road and even notched a top-25 win against James Madison.

From Los Angeles Times

But this summer, she took things up a notch.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rung