nav
gb/nˈæv/ us/nˈæv/
B2
English
~ 6600
navi, GPS, navigáció, navigációs menü, navigációs sáv
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
use the nav to find [a place]
The nav says we’ll get there in thirty minutes.
A navi szerint harminc perc múlva odaérünk.
I always use the nav when I’m driving in a new city.
Mindig a navit használom, ha ismeretlen városban vezetek.
Her phone nav lost signal in the tunnel and we missed the exit.
Can you put the address into the nav before we leave?
The built-in nav is old, so he uses an app instead.
Learner examples
I put the hotel address in the nav.
Beírtam a szálloda címét a naviba.
The nav tells me when to turn left or right.
A navi megmondja, mikor forduljak balra vagy jobbra.
Our car has a big screen for the nav.
I use the nav when I drive to a new place.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "nav" is an informal short form of "navigation" or "navigation system" and use it in formal writing. In formal or careful texts, it is better to write "navigation system" or name the app (for example, "Google Maps").
Meaning
electronic navigation system or app
Collocations
car nav
|in-car nav
|phone nav
|turn on the nav
|use the nav
|check the nav
Synonyms
GPS (Very common informal word for the same type of electronic navigation system, especially in cars.)
|
navigation system (More formal and complete term; not clipped or slangy.)
Antonyms
paper map (Opposite in that it is a non-electronic, manual way to navigate instead of an automated system.)
Themes
technology
|transport
|daily life
|travel
Definition
A car or phone system that shows a map and tells you how to get to a place.
An electronic navigation system in a car, phone, or other device that shows maps and gives routes and directions.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
click the nav to go to [a page]
We moved the login link from the footer to the top nav.
A bejelentkezési linket áthelyeztük a láblécből a felső navigációs sávba.
On mobile, the nav collapses into a hamburger menu.
Mobilon a navigációs menü hamburger menüvé csukódik össze.
The designer simplified the main nav to just four items.
Make sure the nav is consistent across all pages.
The side nav disappears on small screens to save space.
Learner examples
The top nav has links to all main pages.
A felső navigációs menüben megtalálhatók az összes fő oldal linkjei.
On this website, the nav is on the left side.
Ezen a weboldalon a navigációs menü a bal oldalon van.
They changed the nav to make the site easier to use.
I cannot find the nav on this page.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this "nav" with general travel navigation. In web and app design, "nav" specifically means the menu or bar with links or icons for moving between parts of the interface.
Meaning
navigation menu in UI design
Collocations
top nav
|side nav
|main nav
|global nav
|mobile nav
|sticky nav
Synonyms
navigation bar (Slightly more formal and explicit; often shortened to "nav" by designers and developers.)
|
menu (More general word; may refer to many kinds of menus, not only the main navigation area.)
Antonyms
content area (In interface design, the content area is the opposite region of the page, where information is shown rather than navigation controls.)
Themes
technology
|internet
|work
|communication
Definition
The part of a website or app with buttons or links that you click to go to different pages or sections.
The navigation area of a website or app, usually a bar or menu with links or icons that let users move between main sections or pages.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nav
IPA
GB/nˈæv/
US/nˈæv/
Syllables & stress
nav (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (nav)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: nav
- Plural: navs
Word family
Forms
navs
noun
Core family
Related words
navigable
adjective
satnav
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unnavigable
adjective
Advanced or less common
navigability
noun
Expressions
bottom nav
5/bˈɑtəm nˈæv/
fixed phrase
technical
navigation menu at the bottom
A row of navigation buttons or icons at the bottom of a phone or tablet screen.
Examples
- Many mobile apps use a bottom nav with three to five icons.
- The search feature was moved into the bottom nav for easier access.
- Our design guidelines recommend a sticky bottom nav on mobile.
global nav
3/ɡlˈoʊbəl nˈæv/
fixed phrase
technical
navigation menu shown on every page
The navigation menu that stays the same on almost every page of a website or app.
Examples
- The logo in the global nav always links back to the home page.
- We added a language switcher to the global nav.
- The global nav must be consistent across all country sites.
main nav
1/mˈeɪn nˈæv/
fixed phrase
technical
primary navigation menu
The most important navigation menu that links to the main parts of a website or app.
Examples
- Keep the main nav short so users are not confused.
- The blog link was added to the main nav after the redesign.
- Login and signup are both in the main nav on desktop.
side nav
4/sˈaɪd nˈæv/
fixed phrase
technical
vertical navigation menu at side
A tall navigation menu on the left or right side of a website or app screen.
Examples
- The new dashboard uses a side nav for all tools.
- On small screens, the side nav collapses into an icon.
- We put secondary sections in the side nav to keep the top clear.
top nav
2/tˈɑp nˈæv/
fixed phrase
technical
navigation menu at the top
The main navigation menu that is placed across the top of a website or app screen.
Examples
- We moved all primary links into the top nav for better visibility.
- On desktop, the top nav stays fixed when you scroll.
- The logo sits on the left side of the top nav.