DictionaryAI

noble

SayNOH-buhl/ˈnoʊbəl/UK/ˈnəʊbəl/

Noun pluralnobles

8 meanings of noble

Practice

  1. 1
    good characteradjective
    Showing high moral character, marked by honesty and generosity and free of anything petty or mean.

    He made the noble decision to take the blame so that his colleagues would be spared.

    Her noble refusal to betray her friends ended up costing her the promotion.

    UsageCommon with cause, effort and gesture: a noble cause. Both nobler and more noble are correct.

    Similarhonorable

    Oppositedespicable, vile, ignoble, mean

    Note

    Rank has become character here. Latin nōbilis already stretched from "high-born" to "excellent," and this sense turns the qualities expected of the highborn into praise anyone can earn.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  2. 2
    upper classadjective
    Belonging to or characteristic of the hereditary aristocracy; high in rank by birth, station, or title.

    His noble lineage traced back to the medieval court.

    The reform stripped many noble families of their ancient privileges.

    Oppositeinferior, plebeian

  3. 3
    person of ranknouncountable
    A member of the hereditary aristocracy; a person of aristocratic birth.

    The nobles gathered at court to advise the young queen.

    A noble of the old kingdom held vast estates and many tenants.

    UsageOften plural for the class: the nobles. The opposite is commoner.

    Similararistocrat, peer, lord, patrician

    Oppositecommoner, plebeian

  4. 4
    grandadjective
    Grand and stately in appearance; magnificent and impressive in scale or bearing.

    The cathedral's noble facade dominated the city skyline.

    A noble avenue of elms led up to the manor house.

    Similargrand, stately, magnificent, imposing, majestic

    Oppositehumble, modest, unimpressive

  5. 5
    chemistryadjective
    Of a chemical element, resistant to reaction with other substances, including corrosion and oxidation.

    Platinum is a noble metal that resists corrosion even at high temperatures.

    The noble gases occupy the rightmost column of the periodic table.

    UsageMostly in fixed terms: noble gas, noble metal.

    Similarinert, unreactive

    Oppositebase, reactive

    Note

    A chemist's word that keeps a trace of social distance: a noble element holds itself apart and does not readily combine. Noble gas names the unreactive gases, and noble metal names metals such as platinum that resist corrosion. In chemistry, "noble" describes how little an element reacts, not how valuable or rare it is.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    wine grapeadjective
    Of a grape cultivar, belonging to the small group traditionally regarded as best suited to winemaking, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling.

    The estate prides itself on growing only noble grapes.

    Riesling earns its place among the noble varieties prized by winemakers.

    UsageUsually before grape or variety: noble grapes, the noble varieties.

    Note

    Winemakers use it for a short, traditional list rather than a formal standard. The six usually named are Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling, though the word "usually" leaves room for argument.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • The designation is traditional and has no universally agreed formal definition. laithwaites.co.uk
    • The traditional six are Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. en.wikipedia.org
  2. 7
    gold coinnounhistoricalcountable
    A gold coin minted in England during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, typically valued at six shillings and eight pence.

    The knight tossed a noble to the innkeeper and demanded the finest room.

    I lyked no thynge his playe, / For yf I had not quyckely fledde the touche, / He had plucte oute the nobles of my pouche.
    1499, John Skelton, The Bowge of Courte
    Note

    Here the word is money, not rank. John Skelton's The Bowge of Courte (about 1499) has a speaker who barely escapes having "the nobles of my pouche" plucked out, and Milton still reckons in them in Areopagitica (1644). Today the coin belongs to historians: Thomas Penn's Winter King (2011) has Henry offering "a noble in gold" at the altar. Its value of 6s 8d came to a third of a pound.

    Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 8 facts

    • The noble here is a gold coin. en.wikipedia.org
    • John Skelton wrote The Bowge of Courte. otago.ac.nz
    • The speaker Drede describes narrowly escaping theft of his nobles, using the quoted wording. otago.ac.nz
    • Milton uses nobles as a monetary amount in Areopagitica. en.wikisource.org
    • Areopagitica was first published in 1644. en.wikisource.org
    • Thomas Penn's Winter King was published in 2011. penguin.co.uk
    • Winter King describes Henry offering a noble in gold at the altar. en.wiktionary.org
    • Six shillings and eight pence, the noble's usual value, equalled one third of a pound. royalmint.com
  3. 8
    adjective
    Of a polyhedron, both isohedral and isogonal: that is, symmetric across all its faces and across all its vertices.

Practice

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Origin

This word came from Middle English, from Old French noble, from Latin nōbilis ('knowable, well-known, famous, high-born, excellent'), which came from nōscere or gnōscere ('to know'). It replaced the native Middle English word athel, from Old English æþele.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts