English Reference
noun

nun

n.
US /ˈnən/ nun UK spelling nun's, nun's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Religion

    a woman who belongs to a religious community and lives by special promises, often wearing a specific uniform called a habit.

    a female member of a religious order, particularly within Christianity or Buddhism, who lives under solemn vows.

    Simple

    The nun spent her morning teaching at the local school before returning to the convent.

    In context

    After years of contemplation, she decided to join the order and live as a cloistered nun, dedicated to a life of prayer and service.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical

    the fourteenth letter of several alphabets, such as Hebrew and Arabic.

    the fourteenth letter of many Semitic alphabets or abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Arabic.

    Simple

    The teacher showed the students how to write the letter nun in Arabic script.

    In context

    In the study of Semitic linguistics, the letter nun is often associated with the phonetic value of a dental or alveolar nasal.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical

    a type of bird that has feathers on its head that look like a hood.

    a variety of domestic fancy pigeon characterized by a crest of feathers resembling a nun's cowl.

    Simple

    The bird watcher pointed out a nun pigeon resting on the garden wall.

    In context

    The nun is one of the oldest breeds of fancy pigeon, prized by collectors for its distinctive contrasting plumage and hood-like crest.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated