notebook
NOHT-book
/ˈnoʊtbʊk/
A book of blank or lined pages for writing notes in.
Emphasizes its primary purpose for recording information, ideas, or observations, as opposed to a general-purpose book.
The story behind the word. The word 'notebook' is a compound of 'note' and 'book.' 'Note' comes from the Latin notare, meaning 'to mark' or 'to make a sign,' which evolved into the sense of writing down information. 'Book' comes from the Old English bōc. So, a 'notebook' is quite literally a book for making notes. It's a straightforward name for a straightforward, essential item.
Word relationships
- pad: Often implies a stack of loose sheets, sometimes glued at one edge, rather than bound into a book.
Word family
- note (verb): To write down something to remember.
- book (noun): A set of written or printed pages fastened together along one side and encased between covers.
Collocations
- spiral notebook
- composition notebook
- lined notebook
- sketch notebook
- fill a notebook
Example sentences
- "During the lecture, she filled several pages of her notebook with important points and questions." Student life
- "The author always carried a small notebook to capture sudden bursts of inspiration for his next novel." Creative work
Memory hook
It's a BOOK where you write your NOTES. Book for notes.
When not to use
When a single sheet of paper is sufficient, or for formal reports that require specific formatting (use loose-leaf paper and a binder).
Fun facts
- The earliest forms of notebooks date back to ancient civilizations using wax tablets or papyrus scrolls.
- Leonardo da Vinci famously kept numerous notebooks filled with his inventions, observations, and art.
Related words
Also appears in
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