- night
- nightW1S1 [naıt] n [U and C]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(when it is dark)¦2¦(evening)¦3 nights4 night!5 night night!6 night and day/day and night7 night or day/day or night8 night after night9 first night/opening night10 spend the night with somebody/spend the night together11 a good night's sleep12 (have a) late/early night13 last thing at night▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: niht]1.) ¦(WHEN IT IS DARK)¦the dark part of each 24-hour period when the sun cannot be seen and when most people sleep≠ ↑day▪ It was a cold moonlit night.▪ I didn't sleep too well last night .▪ At night the temperature drops below zero.▪ He woke up twice during the night .▪ The party went on all night .▪ Many animals hunt by night .▪ Who could be calling at this time of night ?▪ an attack in the dead of night▪ We spent the first two nights of our vacation in a cheap motel.▪ If you miss the last bus home, you can always stay the night .▪ We took the night train to Glasgow.▪ Night was beginning to fall .▪ the cold night air2.) ¦(EVENING)¦the time during the evening until you go to bed▪ We had a really good meal last night .▪ They stay in and watch television every night .▪ She recognised him from the night before (=the previous evening) .▪ My parents are coming for dinner tomorrow night .Friday/Saturday etc night▪ There's a party at Ben's place on Saturday night.▪ We were on our way back from a night out (=an evening when you go to a party, restaurant, theatre etc) at the theatre.▪ Anna doesn't like him walking home late at night .quiz night/student night etc(=an evening when a particular event happens, especially at a bar, club etc)3.) nightsif you do something nights, you do it regularly or often at night▪ I work nights, so I'm usually asleep during the day.4.) night!spoken used to say goodbye to someone when it is late in the evening or when they are going to bed= ↑good night▪ Night! See you tomorrow!5.) night night!spoken used to say goodbye to someone, especially a child, when they are going to bed6.) night and day/day and nightall the time▪ The store is guarded day and night.▪ We had to work night and day to get it finished.7.) night or day/day or nightat any time▪ You can call me any time, night or day.8.) night after nightevery night for a long period▪ He's out drinking night after night.9.) first night/opening nightthe first performance of a play or show→↑premiere▪ We saw 'Riverdance' on its opening night.10.) spend the night with sb/spend the night togetherto sleep with someone and have sex with them▪ And you thought we spent the night together?11.) a good night's sleepa night when you sleep well▪ You'll feel better after a good night's sleep.12.) (have a) late/early nightto go to bed later or earlier than usual▪ I think I'll have an early night.13.) last thing at nightat the end of the day, just before you go to bed▪ You should water plants either first thing in the morning or last thing at night.→↑nightly▬▬▬▬▬▬▬COLLOCATES for sense 1last nightat night (=when it is night)in/during the night (=at a particular point in the night)in the middle of the nightall night (long)by night (=at night, rather than in the day)at this time of night (=used when you are surprised)in/at the dead of night literary (=in the middle of the night when it is quiet)spend/stay a night somewherestay the night (=sleep at the house of someone you are visiting)night train/bus/flightnight falls written (=it starts to become dark)the night airthe night sky▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.