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nothing

noth·ing [ núthing ]


pron 
Definition:
 
1. not anything: an indefinite pronoun indicating that there is not anything, not a single thing, or not a single part of a thing
There is nothing more annoying than people who drop names.

2. something of no importance: a thing or matter of no importance or significance
It's nothing to me whether they win or lose.

3. not having quality: used to indicate the complete lack of the quality mentioned in somebody or something
He wore an ordinary dark blue jacket, nothing special.

4. zero amount: a zero quantity or zero
We won, three-nothing.

5. state of nonexistence: a condition of nonexistence, or the absence of any perceptible qualities
vanished into nothing



noun  (plural noth·ings)
Definition:
 
somebody or something unimportant: somebody or something regarded as totally unimportant



adjective 
Definition:
 
undistinguished: completely lacking in distinguishing qualities, interest, or significance ( informal )
a nothing product, despite all the hype

[ Old English nāðinc< earlier forms of no1 + thing]

not for nothing for a very good reason

nothing but only

nothing doing used to indicate a complete refusal to do something or to cooperate (informal)

nothing for it used to indicate that there is no other course of action open to somebody
There was nothing for it but for us to admit our error.


nothing if not definitely, undoubtedly, or at the very least
He's nothing if not fair.


nothing less than used to emphasize forcefully that something truly, definitely, or amazingly is as described
The things they've been saying about me are nothing less than slander.


nothing like somebody or something having no resemblance to somebody or something else

nothing much no item or activity of importance, significance, size, value, or interest
Nothing much happened in the first hour we were there.


there's nothing to it used to indicate that something is very easy


Word Usage
nothing - singular or a plural?

Nothing is a singular indefinite pronoun, and so should be treated as a singular even if followed by a phrase introduced by words like but and except for and a plural noun: Nothing but truthful answers is [not are] acceptable on this questionnaire.Nothing except for your boxes and bags has [not have] been removed from the apartment. Moving the subject closer to its verb, however, reduces the chance of grammatical error and more closely follows the natural flow of speech: Except for your boxes and bags, nothing has been removed from the apartment.

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