Definition

1. Noun:
   • The period of darkness between sunset and sunrise: The time when the sun is below the horizon and it is dark outside.
   • The time between sunset and midnight: Often considered the first part of the night.
   • The darkness of night: The quality or state of being dark, as associated with nighttime.
   • A specific evening or night as a time unit: A single period of darkness, often considered from one sunset to the next sunrise.
   • The period spent sleeping: The time during the night when one is in bed.
   • A period of ignorance, gloom, or backwardness: Used metaphorically to describe a dark or difficult time.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The stars are visible at night. (Referring to the dark period.)
  • I go for a walk every night after dinner. (Referring to the evening time.)
  • The thief disappeared into the night. (Referring to the darkness.)
  • We stayed there for three nights. (Referring to specific time units.)
  • I had a terrible night and couldn't sleep. (Referring to the sleeping period.)
  • The country emerged from the night of tyranny. (Metaphorical use for a dark period.)

Advanced Usage

• To make a night of it: To spend an entire evening/night out enjoying oneself, often involving celebration.
  • After the final exam, we decided to make a night of it and celebrate.
• Night and day / Day and night: Continuously, all the time. Also used to emphasize a stark contrast.
  • They worked night and day to finish the project on time. (Continuously)
  • Her new attitude is like night and day compared to before. (A complete contrast)
• A night on the town: An evening spent going to various entertainment venues in a city.
  • For their anniversary, they planned a night on the town.

Variants and Related Words

• Nightly (adj/adv): Happening or done every night.
  • The security guard makes nightly rounds.
• Nightfall (n): The beginning of night; dusk.
  • We need to be home by nightfall.
• Overnight (adj/adv): For or during the night; suddenly.
  • We took an overnight train. (During the night)
  • The product was an overnight success. (Suddenly)

Synonyms

• Darkness: The absence of light, often associated with night.
• Evening: The latter part of the day and early part of the night.
• Nighttime: The time of night.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Burn the midnight oil: To work or study late into the night.
  • She had to burn the midnight oil to prepare for the presentation.
• In the dead of night: In the middle of the night when it is very quiet and dark.
  • The noise woke me up in the dead of night.
• Call it a night: To decide to stop an activity (like work or socializing) for the evening.
  • It's getting late; let's call it a night.

Noun

1. Roman goddess of night; daughter of Erebus; counterpart of Greek Nyx
2. the time between sunset and midnight
   • he watched television every night
3. a shortening of nightfall
   • they worked from morning to night
4. darkness
   • it vanished into the night
5. the dark part of the diurnal cycle considered a time unit
   • three nights later he collapsed
6. the period spent sleeping
   • I had a restless night
7. a period of ignorance or backwardness or gloom
8. the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside