Word
Definitions
01paper book
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a book with empty pages that you use for writing notes or drawing.
n. a book of plain, lined, or gridded paper used for recording memoranda, sketches, or academic notes.
“She always carries a small notebook in her bag to write down new ideas.”
“The researcher filled several notebooks with handwritten observations before digitising the data for the final report.”
Usage
countable
02laptop computer
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Computing
n. a small, portable computer that you can carry easily.
n. a portable personal computer, typically small and light enough to be used on one's lap.
“He opened his notebook to check his emails while waiting at the airport.”
“The company issued high-end notebooks to all remote employees to ensure they had sufficient processing power for video editing.”
Usage
countable
Teaching tip
While 'laptop' is more common in casual speech, 'notebook' is often used in technical or marketing contexts to emphasise portability.
Antonyms
03coding interface
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a type of computer program where you can mix live code, math, and text.
n. a virtual environment or interface used in literate programming that allows for the integration of executable code, rich text, and data visualisations.
“The data scientist shared a notebook containing the analysis and the charts.”
“By using a notebook interface, the team could document their algorithmic choices alongside the actual code execution for better reproducibility.”
Usage
often used as an attributive noun
Teaching tip
This sense is specific to data science and software development, most commonly associated with tools like Jupyter.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “notebook” in context.
Verb
01. open a notebook
“The detective opened his notebook to record the witness's statement.”
verb + noun
02. scribble in a notebook
“She sat in the corner of the cafe and scribbled in a notebook for hours.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. digital notebook
“Many students now use a digital notebook to organize their lecture notes.”
adj + noun
04. spiral-bound notebook
“I prefer using a spiral-bound notebook because it stays flat on the desk.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. laboratory notebook
“All experiments must be documented clearly in your laboratory notebook.”
noun + noun
06. notebook computer
“The new notebook computer is light enough to carry in a small backpack.”
noun + noun
Preposition
07. in a notebook
“He kept all his secret recipes in a notebook hidden in the kitchen.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“He began to loosen up, scribbling ideas in notebooks as they came to him, and dipping back into them during sessions.” “Camus's notebooks, encompassing the years from 1935 to 1959, should not be mistaken for diaries.” “While authorities reported that no suicide note was located, footage from responding officers shows them rifling through a softcover notebook found in her room.” “And secondly, when you take notes by hand, your hands create a robust external memory storage: your notebook.” Etymology
From note + book.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The word in film
The Notebook · 2004 · Romance
- Directed by:
- Nick Cassavetes
- Starring:
- Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Director Nick Cassavetes tells the story of an elderly man who reads a romance to a woman from a handwritten journal. This paper book contains the history of a young couple, played by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, who fall in love in the 1940s.
In Literature
Original artwork created for englishreference.com.
The Golden Notebook · 1962-01-01 · Metafiction
- Author:
- Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing’s 1962 novel follows writer Anna Wulf, who records different parts of her life in four colored journals. The story explores her attempt to tie these fragmented experiences together in a final, fifth volume. This structure uses the physical format of a paper book to represent the protagonist's struggle with mental and societal breakdown.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/notebook
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR