nun
gb/nˈʌn/ us/nˈʌn/
B1
English
~ 9000
apáca, szerzetesnő, nun, piros kúp alakú jelzőbója
NOUN
B1
1
apáca
A2
szerzetesnő
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] becomes a nun
She decided to become a nun after volunteering at the hospital.
Miután önkénteskedett a kórházban, úgy döntött, hogy apáca lesz.
The nun led the students in a short prayer before class.
Az apáca rövid imát mondott a diákokkal óra előtt.
We visited a monastery where the nuns make cheese and honey.
As a young nun, she was sent to work in a rural village.
The film tells the story of a rebellious teen who is sent to live with nuns.
Learner examples
Her aunt is a nun in a small town.
A nagynénje apáca egy kisvárosban.
The nun wears a long black dress.
Az apáca hosszú fekete ruhát visel.
He talks with a nun about his problems.
She wants to be a nun when she is older.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "nun" with "none" because they sound similar. "Nun" is a religious woman, while "none" means zero or not any (e.g., "I have none left"). Some learners also think "nun" only refers to Catholic women, but it can be used for women in other religions, such as a Buddhist nun.
Meaning
woman in a religious order
Collocations
Catholic nun
|Buddhist nun
|convent nun
|become a nun
|an order of nuns
|nun's habit
Synonyms
sister (Often used as a form of address for a nun, especially in Christian contexts; can also refer more generally to a woman in a female religious community.)
Antonyms
layperson (A person who is not a member of the clergy or a religious order, the opposite of someone who has taken religious vows.)
Themes
religion
|society
|identity
|relationships
Definition
A woman who gives her life to religion, usually lives in a special house with other women, and follows strict religious rules.
A woman who has taken formal religious vows and usually lives in a community devoted to prayer, service, and a disciplined spiritual life.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
nun
C1
Usage pattern:
the Hebrew letter nun
In this word, the letter nun appears twice.
Ebben a szóban a nun betű kétszer szerepel.
Please write the Hebrew nun on the board.
Kérlek, írd fel a táblára a héber nun betűt.
The final form of nun is used only at the end of a word.
Learner examples
The teacher shows the class the letter nun.
A tanár megmutatja az osztálynak a nun betűt.
He practices writing the Hebrew nun again and again.
Újra meg újra gyakorolja a héber nun betű írását.
This Hebrew word starts with the letter nun.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "nun" can be a letter name as well as a religious woman. The pronunciation is the same, so only the context shows whether it is the Hebrew letter or a religious person.
Meaning
fourteenth Hebrew alphabet letter
Collocations
the letter nun
|Hebrew letter nun
|final nun
|the character nun
Synonyms
letter נ (Refers directly to the written symbol instead of its spoken name.)
Themes
language
|religion
|writing
|education
|communication
Definition
The name of the 14th letter in the Hebrew alphabet, written נ or ן.
The fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, written נ in its regular form and ן when it appears at the end of a word.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
a nun buoy in [a channel]
Keep the red nun buoys on your starboard side as you enter the harbor.
Tartsd a piros kúp alakú jelzőbójákat a hajó jobb oldalán, amikor behajózol a kikötőbe.
The chart shows a line of nun buoys marking the narrow channel.
A hajózási térképen piros kúp alakú jelzőbóják sora látható, amelyek a keskeny hajózóutat jelölik.
After the storm, the outer nun buoy was found miles from its proper position.
Learner examples
The boat passes close to the red nun buoy.
A hajó közel halad el a piros kúp alakú jelzőbója mellett.
On this river, nun buoys show the safe way for ships.
Ezen a folyón piros kúp alakú jelzőbóják mutatják a hajók számára a biztonságos útvonalat.
The captain looks for the next nun buoy in the fog.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "nun" here refers to a religious woman on a boat. In nautical English, a "nun buoy" is only a type of red, cone-shaped navigation marker and has no connection to religion.
Meaning
red conical navigation buoy
Collocations
nun buoy
|red nun
|red nun buoy
|channel marker
Synonyms
starboard-hand buoy (A more general nautical term; not all starboard-hand buoys are necessarily cone-shaped "nun" buoys in the North American system.)
Antonyms
can buoy (A green, usually cylindrical buoy that marks the port side of a channel, functionally opposite to a red nun buoy in North American systems.)
Themes
transport
|sea
|technology
|travel
|transportation
Definition
A red, cone-shaped floating marker used on water in North America to show the right-hand side of a safe boat channel when you sail in from the sea.
In North American maritime navigation, a red, conical buoy that marks the starboard side of a channel when returning from open water.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nun
IPA
GB/nˈʌn/
US/nˈʌn/
Syllables & stress
nun (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (nun)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: nun
- Plural: nuns
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.